February 15, 2020

Evaluation and management of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding focus on etiologies originating distally to the ligament of Treitz. Diverticular disease, hemorrhoids, angiodysplasia, infectious colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease are common sources. Initial evaluation…

Cerebral palsy is defined as a group of disorders that affects an individual’s movement, posture, and balance due to injury to the developing brain. Treatments for the movement disorders associated with cerebral palsy include intramuscular onabotulinumtoxinA injections…

The incidence of coccidioidomycosis is increasing in endemic areas, causing as many as 17% to 29% of all cases of community-acquired pneumonia in some regions. Residing in or traveling to areas endemic for Coccidioides is required for the diagnosis. A travel history is…

Immigrant children are a vulnerable group, requiring special protections under U.S. and international law. Compared with nonimmigrant children, they face additional dangers to their physical and mental health that stem directly from immigration policies, including the right to…

When and how should amenorrhea be evaluated? | How should ingrown toenails be treated? | Which noninvasive nonpharmacologic treatments for chronic neck pain improve function or pain? | What infantile hemangiomas require evaluation or treatment? | Who should receive routine…

Can signs, symptoms, and simple tests be used to determine the likelihood of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction?

The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians assess women with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer or who have an ancestry associated with breast cancer susceptibility 1 and 2 (BRCA1/2) gene mutations with an appropriate brief…

This PPIP quiz is based on the recommendations of the USPSTF.

A man presented with worsening dysphagia, with sore throat, dyspnea, cough, heartburn, and wheezing.

Dupilumab is an effective injectable drug that decreases asthma exacerbations and the need for an oral glucocorticoid in patients with moderate to severe asthma, particularly those with high eosinophil counts.

Inappropriate treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is common in hospitalized patients. Older patients, those with dementia or acutely altered mental status, and those with abnormal urinalysis results are more likely to be treated with antibiotics.

The intensification of antihypertensive regimens on discharge in older adults hospitalized for noncardiac conditions is associated with an increased risk of readmission (number needed to harm [NNH] = 27) and medication-related serious adverse events (NNH = 63) within 30 days.

Based on a review of low-quality evidence, adding a topical intervention after cryosurgery for actinic keratosis improves the likelihood of complete clearance from 46% to 79% (number needed to treat = 3).

POEM

The 2020 adult and childhood/adolescent immunization schedules have been approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Letter

Valley fever (also called coccidioidomycosis, or cocci [COX-ee] for short) is an infection caused by mold that grows in outdoor dirt. It is most common in the southwest United States, especially in parts of Arizona and southern California (see map). You can’t get it if you don…