May 2022

The prevalence of constipation in children and adolescents is estimated to be as high as 30% worldwide. Functional constipation is the most common type in children and can usually be diagnosed with a comprehensive history and physical examination, which should exclude red flag…

This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of posterior tibial, peroneal, and tibialis anterior tendinopathies.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and women in the United States, and it remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and worldwide. The most common but nonspecific symptom of lung cancer is a cough.

The evaluation of a patient with a first seizure should focus on identifying underlying provoking factors such as brain injury, metabolic derangement, or certain medications. The decision to start anti-seizure medication is based on assessment of the patient's risk of seizure…

The 2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sexually transmitted infection (STI) guidelines provide updated recommendations. Family physicians can reduce STIs by taking a thorough sexual history, ordering screening tests and treatment based on the CDC guidelines…

Child abuse and maltreatment can include neglect and emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Physicians should be aware of risk factors and signs of potential abuse and mindful of providing trauma-informed care. A comprehensive list of resources is provided in an online table.

As the opioid epidemic continues, a movement advocating for medically supervised injection sites in U.S. cities is growing. Family physicians should be knowledgeable about their potential impacts.

Without national standards of credentialing based on competency, family physicians who provide obstetric care may struggle to obtain hospital privileges.

Reviews of AFP's content using key clinical questions and evidence-based answers.

In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), reducing dietary salt intake by approximately 4.2 g per day lowers mean systolic blood pressure by 6.9 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 3.9 mm Hg compared with patients on a higher salt diet. In patients with CKD who do not…

Kinesiology taping for adults with rotator cuff disease has little to no benefit compared with sham taping or conservative (i.e., nonsurgical) therapy.

What are the benefits of physical activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury who use or are at risk of using wheelchairs?

Routine use of ultrasonography before a first-trimester abortion is not necessary. In patients seeking medical or surgical abortion in the first trimester, date of the last menstrual period (LMP) alone can appropriately determine gestational age for treatment (before 63 to 90…

MyProstateScore (MPS; also referred to as Michigan Prostate Score) is a promising tool for the detection of clinically significant prostate cancer and has been validated for determining the necessity of a prostate biopsy in select individuals. It has not been studied as a…

Legal, psychological, and ethical encounters found in physicians' day-to-day practices.

A 40-year-old man presented with erythematous, raised, painful nodules across his trunk, back, arms, and legs and unintended weight loss.

A 16-year-old football player presented after a game with pain and deformity of his left ring finger.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated recommendations for management of sexually transmitted infections.

The American Academy of Dermatology and National Psoriasis Foundation updated their recommendations on topical therapies for patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.

In children with community-acquired pneumonia who are discharged from an emergency department or inpatient setting within 48 hours, a lower dose of oral amoxicillin is noninferior to a higher dose, and three days of treatment is noninferior to seven days in reducing the need…

For patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack, dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin plus clopidogrel for up to 30 days reduces the likelihood of subsequent stroke more than aspirin monotherapy, with a small increase in the risk of major hemorrhage. A longer…

This study found no differences among ibuprofen, ketorolac, and diclofenac in the primary outcome of overall clinical improvement at five days in adults presenting to the emergency department with acute, nonradicular low back pain. Some of the secondary outcomes favored…

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir significantly reduces the likelihood of hospitalization or death in unvaccinated adults with confirmed COVID-19 who are at risk of a more severe course of disease.

Letter

Reply: Michael J. Arnold, John R. Downs

Lung cancer is a tumor on your lung. It can make you cough, be short of breath, have chest pain, and cough up blood. As the cancer gets worse or spreads, you may not want to eat as much as normal, and you may lose weight, lose your energy, and become weak.

A seizure (SEE-zhure) is typically a sudden, unexpected disruption of your normal brain activity. It can make your body jerk or shake. You might repeat movements like smacking your lips or grinding your teeth. Sometimes people pass out or stare into space during a seizure…