February 15, 2016

Microcytic anemia due to iron deficiency is the most common type of anemia in children. Normocytic anemia is most often caused by iron deficiency anemia or acute blood loss. Macrocytic anemia, which is uncommon in children, can be caused by vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies…

The patient history can help determine whether bruising or bleeding is abnormal. The International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis has developed a bleeding assessment tool that can be used to indicate possible pathology. A family history of bleeding problems may suggest a…

The National Institutes of Health classifies prostatitis into four syndromes. The chronic, symptomatic types are chronic bacterial prostatitis and chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Chronic bacterial prostatitis presents as persistent lower urinary…

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Adopting high-value prescribing strategies can help family physicians increase the quality of care, decrease costs, and fulfill our professional obligation to provide health care that is based on the wise and cost-effective management of limited clinical resources.

Oral misoprostol (Cytotec), vaginal and intracervical prostaglandins, and mechanical methods are effective for induction of labor at term. The use of intravenous oxytocin (Pitocin) increases the risk of failure to achieve vaginal delivery at 24 hours and the risk of cesarean…

A woman presented with a rash that began as a large plaque affecting one-fourgh of her breast then decreased to a small plaque affecting only the nipple.

The USPSTF recommends screening for high blood pressure in adults aged 18 years or older.

Conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene is effective for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and may be better tolerated than conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone. It will maintain bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and hip, but its effect on fractures is not known…

You do not have to treat a low vitamin D level if your patient is a typical community-dwelling postmenopausal woman younger than 75 years. The usual dosage of vitamin D, 800 IU (20 mcg) daily, will not increase levels even after a year of therapy and has little effect on…

Naproxen alone is as effective as naproxen plus oxycodone/acetaminophen or naproxen plus cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) in reducing pain and improving function in adults with acute musculoskeletal LBP without radicular symptoms. Adverse events were significantly more common in…

Each year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviews and updates the childhood immunization schedule to incorporate any published updates or corrections from the previous year. New recommendations…

Each year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviews and updates the adult immunization schedule to incorporate any published updates or corrections from the previous year.

Everyone will get a bruise or have bleeding at some point. Bruises result from blood under the skin after an injury. Bruises are common on areas such as the arms and legs. People often bruise more easily as they get older. Bleeding happens when blood vessels are broken because…