Overview of Refractive Surgery

KRAIG SCOT BOWER, ERIC D. WEICHEL, THOMAS J. KIM

Refractive surgery procedures include radial keratotomy (RK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK) and intrastromal corneal rings (ICR). Because of increased media coverage and advertising of these...

Interstitial Cystitis: Urgency and Frequency Syndrome

JULIUS F. METTS

The diagnosis of interstitial cystitis, a painful, chronic disease of the bladder, is often a challenge and involves ruling out other conditions that affect the bladder.

Evaluation and Management of Infants and Young Children with Fever

MICHAEL LUSZCZAK

Studies conducted since publication of the 1993 practice guideline for the management of fever without source have led to several minor modifications, but the subject remains controversial.

Challenges in Pain Management at the End of Life

KARL E. MILLER, MARTHA M. MILLER, MONICA R. JOLLEY

Pain control at the end of life requires an understanding of various pain syndromes and the use of appropriate strategies to manage changes in the patient's pain pattern.

Introducing Four New Family Physician Diarists

Janis Wright

As you'll see on page 1178 of this issue, “Diary from a Week of Practice” has undergone a change in contributors. Earlier this year, Walter L. Larimore, M.D., who had for the past nine years coordinated “Diary from a Week in Practice” along with John R. Hartman, M.D., left...

Newsletter

Rosemarie Sweeney, Matthew Neff

AAFP Compiles Resources for Physicians in Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks | Endocrinology Groups Announce New Diabetes Guidelines | Performance-Enhancing Supplement Use Is Increasing Among U.S. Youth | HRSA Provides New Tool for Improving Cultural Competency | Two...

Quantum Sufficit

Sarah Morgan, Lori Parry

It is a widely known fact that men and women use different navigational strategies to get to the same place in the real world. However, in the virtual world minor navigational differences are magnified, with the men performing better than women in computer-generated spaces....

Fever Without Source in Infants and Young Children—A Hot Potato?

WILLIAM F. MISER

Although fever is common in infants and young children three to 36 months of age, its management remains challenging and controversial. In this issue of American Family Physician,1 Luszczak provides an update of the 1993 practice guideline on the management of febrile infants...

Managing Pain at the End of Life

ALAN B. DOUGLASS

As a patient nears the end of life, treatment goals change from measures aimed at prolonging life via cure or remission of disease to the provision of palliative care. Palliative care focuses on maximizing the quality of the patient's remaining life by relieving suffering...

Diary from a Week in Practice

The outreach program has a motor coach equipped with examination rooms, a pharmacy, a radiography unit, a basic lab and a patient education area that travels to homeless shelters where medical students and family practice residents do clinical rotations. A man who was...

A Widened Mediastinum

ANUJ BHARGAVA, ZAFAR IQBAL

Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

What Is the Best Way to Treat Trichomoniasis in Women?

JOHN EPLING

Nitroimidazoles (such as metronidazole [Flagyl]) are the most effective treatment for parasitological cure of trichomoniasis. Single-dose treatment is as effective as longer term treatment but increases side effects.

ACIP Releases Guidelines on the Prevention and Control of Influenza

MONICA PREBOTH

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations on the prevention and control of influenza for the 2001–2002 influenza season.

Clinical Briefs

Monica Preboth

AAP Statement on the Use of Fruit Juice in Children | Resistance Training in Older Adults | Topical Solution for Nail Fungus | Paroxetine Approved for Generalized Anxiety | SAMHSA Brochures on Substance Abuse in Adolescence | FDA Approval of Pulse Dye Lasers to Treat Psoriasis

Confronted by an Unexpected Laboratory Result

LARRY DICKEY

As we can see, an inadvertent laboratory test result may lead to a cascade of further tests—possibly resulting in unnecessary morbidity or even (rarely) mortality. Each year, millions of screening tests are ordered in violation of recommended guidelines—because of simple...

Cultural Controversies on Child Abuse

Can Two Questions Screen for Alcohol and Substance Abuse?

KARL E. MILLER

Risk of Dialysis Treatment Before Renal Transplant

BILL ZEPF

Television Viewing Time Increases Risk for Obesity in Children

KARL E. MILLER

Treatment for Head Lice in School-Aged Children

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Statin Use in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Reviewing the Use of Meningococcal Vaccine

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Screening Spirometry for Detection of COPD

KARL E. MILLER

WBC Count Predicts Increased Mortality in Acute MI

RICHARD SADOVSKY

Three Clinical Tests Reliably Diagnose Rotator Cuff Tears

ANNE D. WALLING

Clinical Decision Aid for Discontinuing In-Hospital CPR

GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

Antibiotic Therapy for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

RICHARD SADOVSKY

What Should I Know About Refractive Surgery?

Refractive surgery is an alternative to wearing glasses or contact lenses. It can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The different kinds of surgeries are explained below.

Interstitial Cystitis: A Bladder Problem

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder problem. About 750,000 Americans have interstitial cystitis. Most of them are women. People with interstitial cystitis have a bladder wall that is inflamed and irritated (red and sore). This inflammation can scar the bladder or make...