• Articles

    Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: Screening for Colorectal Cancer

    BRETT ANDREW JOHNSON

    Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a valuable screening procedure that family physicians can perform in their practices.

    Cervical Spine Radiographs in the Trauma Patient

    MARK A. GRABER, MARY KATHOL

    Trauma patients with neck pain, tenderness on neck palpation, numbness or weakness in the extremities, other distracting injuries, a history of loss of consciousness, or altered mental status due to trauma, alcohol or drugs, should undergo a series of cervical spine...

    Hepatitis C: Part II. Prevention Counseling and Medical Evaluation

    LINDA A. MOYER, ERIC E. MAST, MIRIAM J. ALTER

    The second of a two-part series, this article discusses the prevention of hepatitis C virus infection in many settings, as well as various counseling approaches and current treatment options for patients with hepatitis C.

    Alcohol-Related Problems: Recognition and Intervention

    SANDRA K. BURGE, F. DAVID SCHNEIDER

    Family physicians can help prevent serious consequences of alcohol-related problems in many patients with simple screening and brief intervention strategies.

    Primary Care of Infants and Young Children with Down Syndrome

    REBECCA B. SAENZ

    Home living, proper health maintenance and newer surgical techniques to correct cardiac and gastrointestinal anomalies have greatly improved the functional prognosis for infants with Down syndrome.

    Ordering and Understanding the Exercise Stress Test

    MARK D. DARROW

    The clinical utility of an exercise stress test is enhanced by a clear understanding of its indications and the implications of the test results.

    Manifestations of Food Allergy: Evaluation and Management

    SCOTT H. SICHERER

    The diagnosis of food allergy requires a careful search for possible causes of the patient's symptoms. Once the diagnosis is established, treatment consists of the elimination of causal foods and the medical management of symptoms.

    Family Practice International

    Anne D. Walling

    (Canada—Canadian Family Physician, July 1998, p. 1481.) Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with more than 90 percent of duodenal ulcers and 80 percent of gastric ulcers. If the organism is successfully eradicated, the 12-month rate of ulcer recurrence is...

    Inside AFP

    A Sigmoidoscopic Gallery

    JANIS WRIGHT

    As you can see by the reproduction of the montage below, AFP's cover takes a different twist this issue: a collection of 16 color images seen through a flexible sigmoidoscope. Intermingled are views of normal rectal folds, mucosal vasculature and haustra, and views of...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Newsletter

    Rosemarie Sweeney, Verna L. Rose

    Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News Now.

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Monica A. Preboth, Shyla Wright

    Low-fat dairy products can reduce the risk of colon cancer, according to a study in JAMA. Researchers studied 70 people who were at risk for colon cancer. The control group continued regular diets, while the experimental group increased their consumption of low-fat dairy...

    Editorials

    Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: The Unkept Promise of Cancer Prevention

    WM. MACMILLAN RODNEY

    The authors of the article on flexible sigmoidoscopy in this issue of American Family Physician1 have crafted an excellent review of what many had hoped would become a diagnostic tool frequently used by generalist physicians. Gastrointestinal symptoms and colorectal cancer...

    Hepatitis C: Who Should We Be Treating?

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    The hepatitis C virus (HCV) was first identified by molecular cloning in 1988. It was subsequently determined that this agent caused the majority of cases of transfusion-related hepatitis (formerly known as non-A, non-B hepatitis). Identification of the virus spawned the...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    TBS struggles daily with the demands of being a mother of three-year-old twins and the responsibility of caring for patients. Today, TBS brought her girls along to the hospital for what was anticipated to be a brief check on two patients who had been admitted earlier in the...

    Conference Highlights

    Conference Highlights

    Verna L. Rose

    (50th Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians) A case report of an infant born with ankyloglossia indicates that a frenotomy can be performed safely and effectively in an outpatient setting with excellent results in infants born with...

    Special Medical Reports

    ACSM Revises Guidelines for Exercise to Maintain Fitness

    Sharon Scott Morey

    The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has updated its position stand on the quantity and quality of exercise to maintain cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. The revised ACSM guidelines include for the first time a recommendation for flexibility training as a...

    ACOG Urges a Cautious Approach to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery

    Verna Rose

    While strongly supporting the concept of vaginal birth after previous cesarean (VBAC) delivery, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued an updated practice pattern that recommends a more cautious approach and consideration of individual risk...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Verna L. Rose

    A revised policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on screening for elevated blood lead levels in children recommends the use of targeted blood screening instead of universal screening. In the new guidelines, published in the June 1998 issue of...

    Letters to the Editor

    Nonsurgical Treatment of Pain in Lumbar Spine Stenosis

    Over-the-Counter Melatonin Products and Contamination

    Tips from Other Journals

    Loratadine and Fluticasone Nasal Spray: Added Benefit?

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Diagnosing Osteitis Pubis: A Case Report and Review

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Endometrial Cells on Pap Smear and Endometrial Cancer

    KARL MILLER

    Review of Current Treatment Strategies in Heart Failure

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Effect of Beta Blockers on Mortality Following MI

    JEFFREY T. KIRCHNER

    A Program of Foot Care to Reduce Diabetes-Related Amputations

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    White Coat Hypertension: Not a Benign Condition

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Should Blood Screening Be Routine for Vaginal Delivery?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Alternatives for Intrapartum Prophylaxis of Group B Strep

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Underdosage of ACE Inhibitors for Congestive Heart Failure

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Drainage of Large Pericardial Effusion Without Tamponade?

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Valaciclovir for Suppression of Recurrent Genital Herpes

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Efficacy of Beta Blockers in Elderly Patients with MI

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Use of Opioids for the Chronic Pain of Rheumatic Diseases

    KARL MILLER

    Postmenopausal Women With CHD: What's the Role of HRT?

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    What You Should KnowAbout Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

    In this exam, your doctor uses an instrumentcalled a “flexible sigmoidoscope” (say: sig-moydo-scope) to look for problems in your rectumand lower colon. The rectum and lower colonare parts of the large intestine, or bowel.

    When You Have Hepatitis C

    Your blood test for hepatitis C was positive. This means that you are infected with the hepatitis C virus (called HCV for short). You're not alone—almost 4 million people in this country have HCV. You got HCV through contact with the blood of another person with HCV. HCV...

    Is Alcohol a Problem for You?

    Experts define “one drink” in this way:

    Finding Out Your Child Has Down Syndrome

    Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by an extra chromosome number 21. It's named after the doctor who discovered its cause.

    Caring for a Child with Down Syndrome

    Just like any other newborn, your baby will need to be fed, dressed, diapered, cuddled, held, talked to, played with and loved. However, your baby will probably have some health problems that will require some extra care.

    Food Allergies—Just the Facts

    Many of the things we think we know about food allergy are really just myths—stories that are commonly known but aren't based on science. This handout will help you learn the facts about food allergies.



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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