January 2023

This article focuses on five diagnoses that disproportionately affect people with skin of color and can substantially impact mental health and quality of life.

Tonsillitis is most commonly caused by viruses. Treatment is focused on supportive care; however, if tonsillitis is caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, it should be treated with antibiotics to prevent complications. Tonsillar stones may be associated with recurrent…

Initial evaluation of polyarticular joint pain should focus on inflammation, location of pain, duration of symptoms, presence of systemic symptoms, and any exposures to pathogens that could cause arthritis.

Temporomandibular disorders affect between 5% and 12% of the population. The diagnosis is based on history and physical examination; however, use of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is recommended if the diagnosis is in doubt.

Hypokalemia is caused by decreased intake, renal losses, gastrointestinal losses, or transcellular shifts. Diuretics are among the most common causes of hypokalemia, especially at higher doses. Hyperkalemia results from impaired urinary potassium excretion, transcellular shifts…

Infectious mononucleosis is characterized by a triad of fever, pharyngitis, and posterior cervical lymphadenopathy. Initial testing should include a heterophile antibody test and complete blood count with differential. Treatment is supportive, with surveillance for potential…

Beginning in the fall of 2020, in response to reader comments and the historic heightened awareness of racism as a public health crisis, AFP editors have taken steps to improve our approach to and the advancement of health equity.

Children in foster or kinship care are likely to experience fractured and inadequate health care. However, with proper attention, planning, and education, family physicians are well suited to lead a multidisciplinary team that cares for these children into adulthood.

Social determinants of health are crucial drivers of health outcomes and inequities in the United States and account for approximately 80% of health outcomes, compared with only 20% for health care. Family physicians are increasingly asked to assess social needs and connect…

A color recommendation of green (benefits greater than harms) was assigned for corticosteroid treatment in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease because of the promising moderate-certainty evidence supporting this intervention and possibly limited adverse events.

Key clinical questions and their evidence-based answers directly from the journal’s content, written by and for family physicians.

There is no difference in effectiveness between NSAIDs and other pain relievers, including acetaminophen and opioids, for pain reduction in patients younger than 65 years who have acute strains and sprains.

There is moderate-quality evidence that a combined regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol is more effective than misoprostol alone for medication abortions before 12 weeks of gestation. The effectiveness of this regimen is no different with a mifepristone dose of 200 mg…

The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.

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

SGLT-2 inhibitors can reduce hospitalizations from heart failure but do not significantly reduce cardiovascular-related mortality. Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) decreases symptoms of heart failure and improves distance walked in a six-minute walk test.

Dual sensory (vision and hearing) impairment in patients older than 65 years may be associated with an increased mortality risk.

A patient presented with fluid-filled bullae in different stages that began on his hands and feet then spread.

A patient presented with a large pedunculated mass stemming from the labia.

Semaglutide may result in more weight loss than other currently available treatments, but many patients will experience gastrointestinal effects and may regain a portion of the weight lost if the medication is discontinued. Some patients may not want to use an injectable…

Patients and many physicians often think of chronic pain as a direct manifestation of ongoing tissue (nociceptive pain) or nerve (neuropathic pain) damage. In recent years, a third type of pain—centralized or nociplastic pain—has been recognized.

POEMs

POEMs

POEMs

POEMs

The American College of Chest Physicians published guidelines for lung cancer screening based on a systematic review.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) updated its original statement on physical activity for people with type 2 diabetes. Recommendations include all types of physical activity, encompassing more human movement than just planned exercise.

Letter

Letter

Reply: Howard Tracer

Dermatosis papulosa nigra (DUR-muh-TOE-sis PAP-yoo-LOW-suh NIE-gruh) are small, smooth, dark bumps on the skin. The bumps are usually not painful and do not itch. They are not harmful. They are mostly on the face but also can be on the chest and back. Both men and women can get…

Strep throat is an infection of the tonsils, which are tissue in the back of the throat. It is caused by a specific type of bacteria (group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus). It is most common in children three to 15 years of age.

Tonsil stones are small lumps of hard material that form in the tonsils. Tonsil stones are usually not painful or harmful but they can cause bad breath. They are also called tonsilloliths (TON-sill-uh-liths).

Temporomandibular (TEM-puh-roh-man-DIB-yoo-ler) disorders (also called TMDs) affect the jaw and the muscles you use to chew and open your mouth. They are sometimes incorrectly called TMJ, but this refers to only the jaw joint.

Potassium is a mineral that helps the cells in your body work correctly. The World Health Organization recommends a diet rich in potassium for most healthy adults. You can get potassium from eating most fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish. Foods with a lot of potassium include…

Quiz Answer Choice. After publication, the online version of the article, “Evidence-Based Contraception: Common Questions and Answers” (September 2022, p. 251), was updated to include information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from August 2022 that extended the…