Articles
Antibiotic Use in Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Studies show that many upper respiratory tract infections are treated unnecessarily with antibiotics. Antibiotics should not be used for the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or laryngitis. Evidence supports antibiotic use in most cases of acute otitis media, group A beta…
Medication Safety in Breastfeeding
This article provides information on the management of medications for common conditions during breastfeeding.
Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents. There are several validated screening measures for symptom assessment and monitoring. Cognitive behavior therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are first-line treatments and…
Hip Fractures: Diagnosis and Management
Hip fractures are common causes of disability, with mortality rates reaching 30% at one year. Plain radiography is usually sufficient for diagnosis, but magnetic resonance imaging should be obtained if suspicion of fracture persists despite normal radiography.
Care of People Experiencing Homelessness
Homelessness increases morbidity associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and infectious diseases and all-cause mortality. A multidisciplinary approach to the care of people experiencing homelessness that includes pharmacists, case managers, and social workers improves…
Galactorrhea: Rapid Evidence Review
Galactorrhea, the production of breast milk unrelated to physiologic lactation, has a variety of causes. This rapid evidence review provides diagnostic guidance and treatment recommendations based on the underlying cause.
Editorials
Perinatal Care of Transgender Patients, Adolescent Patients, and Patients With Opioid Use Disorder
This editorial highlights the additional risks to and health care recommendations for transgender and adolescent pregnant patients and pregnant patients with opioid use disorder.
Navigating Noninvasive Prenatal Screening for Subchromosomal Abnormalities
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics recommend that all pregnant patients be offered screening or diagnostic testing for aneuploidy with appropriate pre- and posttest…
AFP Clinical Answers
Panic Disorder, Acne Vulgaris, UTI in Children, Travelers Diarrhea, Exercise During Pregnancy, Insect Stings
Key clinical questions and their evidence-based answers directly from the journal’s content, written by and for family physicians.
Medicine by the Numbers
Music Therapy for Autistic People
We have assigned a color recommendation of yellow (unclear benefits) for the effects of music therapy on global improvement, total autism severity, and quality of life in autistic people.
Cochrane for Clinicians
Pharmacotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) improve symptoms of PTSD and are considered first-line pharmacologic agents. Mirtazapine and amitriptyline also improve PTSD symptoms. SSRI use is associated with an increased risk of treatment withdrawal because of adverse…
Antiplatelet Therapy in Chronic Kidney Disease
Antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk of myocardial infarction by 0.8% compared with placebo in patients with chronic kidney disease but is associated with an increased risk of major bleeding.
FPIN's Clinical Inquiries
Deprescribing Chronic Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors
Several deprescribing methods may provide limited success. Some patients may have a return of symptoms with abrupt discontinuation. Changing the proton pump inhibitor prescription to as-needed dosing results in fewer pills being used (by about four pills per week), but with…
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
Screening for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
For adults 40 years or older who do not have any symptoms of glaucoma, the USPSTF found that the evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for primary open-angle glaucoma in adults.
Lown Right Care
Overdiagnosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
A collaboration between AFP and the Lown Institute promotes a vision of delivering heath care that is based on the evidence, balanced in its approach, and focused on the patient.
Photo Quiz
Recurrent Groin Abscess
A woman with a history of midurethral sling procedure presented with a recurrent groin abscess.
Foot Wound Progressing From Small Scrape to Ulcer
A 13-year-old girl with history of acne, seasonal allergies, and asthma presented with a cut on her foot that worsened into an ulcer.
Diary of a Family Physician
Diary of a Family Physician
First-person accounts from the front lines of family medicine.
Point-of-Care Guides
Clinical Diagnosis of Testicular Torsion
How accurate are history and physical examination in diagnosing testicular torsion?
Curbside Consultation
The Physician’s Role in Transitioning Older Adults Into Long-term Care Facilities
Selection of a long-term care facility is influenced by many factors, including social and cultural norms, timing of placement (e.g., from hospital vs. from home), language, and family dynamics. Selection is most heavily influenced by location, with the usual goal of being…
POEMs
Practice Guidelines
Blood Pressure Targets in Adults With Hypertension: Guidelines From the AAFP
The American Academy of Family Physicians updated a recent systematic review with a literature review of subsequent studies to recommend blood pressure targets for primary care management of hypertension.
Blood Pressure Targets in Adults With Hypertension: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the AAFP
The American Academy of Family Physicians updated a recent systematic review with a literature review of subsequent studies to recommend blood pressure targets for primary care management of hypertension.
Surgical Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Updated Guidelines From the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
To support physicians in making treatment plans to address adherence for patients with sleep apnea, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine has updated its clinical practice guidelines on surgical referral for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Letters to the Editor
Simplification in Hepatitis C Treatment
Reply: David D. Maness, Elly Riley, Grant Studebaker
Information from Your Family Doctor
When Antibiotics Can Help With Upper Respiratory Infections
Antibiotics are medicines that can fight or prevent some infections. Infections are caused by two types of germs—bacteria and viruses.
Hip Fractures: What You Need to Know
Fracture is another word for broken bone. A hip fracture is a break at the top of your upper leg bone. Hip fractures can occur at any age, but most occur from a fall in older adults. Hip fractures are more common in women. People with weak bones from osteoporosis (AH-stee-oh…
Galactorrhea (Milk Discharge)
Galactorrhea (guh-LACK-toe-REE-uh) is a milky discharge from the breast that isn’t from breastfeeding or that happens at least one year after stopping breastfeeding. It usually happens in both breasts, but it can also happen in only one. Both women and men can have galactorrhea.