• Articles

    Management of COPD Exacerbations

    ANN E. EVENSEN

    Several interventions have been proven effective in the treatment of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The choice of therapy depends on the severity of the exacerbation. Effective management combines relieving acute symptoms and lowering the risk of...

    Adverse Effects of Antipsychotic Medications

    JOHN MUENCH, ANN M. HAMER

    Deciding which antipsychotic medication to prescribe should depend on the potential for adverse effects in individual patients. This article reviews some of the more important adverse effects and comparative risks.

    Common Tongue Conditions in Primary Care

    BRIAN V. REAMY, RICHARD DERBY, CHRISTOPHER W. BUNT

    The diagnosis of tongue conditions includes a thorough history and examination of tongue morphology. Many conditions do not require treatment, although referral should be considered in patients with lesions of unclear etiology.

    Urine Drug Screening: A Valuable Office Procedure

    JOHN B. STANDRIDGE, STEPHEN M. ADAMS, ALEXANDER P. ZOTOS

    Urine drug screenings may be required for employment, military or sports participation, or health reasons. Immunoassay testing is the preferred initial test, with a high predictive value for marijuana and cocaine. Positive tests should be confirmed using gas chromatography...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    Surgeon General Releases Goals and USPSTF Updates Recommendations on Obesity | MedPAC to Ask Congress for 1 Percent Rate Increase in 2011 Medicare Physician Payment | Obama Reiterates Need for Health Care Reform, Budget Invests in Primary Care | Obama Administration Issues...

    Editorials

    Use of Atypical Antipsychotics in Children: Balancing Safety and Effectiveness

    INGRID KOHLSTADT, BENEDETTO VITIELLO

    The authors of “Adverse Effects of Antipsychotic Medications” in this issue of American Family Physician aptly state that, “The use of antipsychotic medications entails a difficult trade-off between the benefit of alleviating psychotic symptoms and the risk of troubling,...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Topical Treatments for Chronic Plaque Psoriasis

    JUSTIN BAILEY, BREA WHITEHAIR

    Topical vitamin D analogues, corticosteroids, anthralin, and tazarotene (Tazorac) are all more effective than placebo. Vitamin D and high-potency corticosteroids were equally effective when compared head to head, but were more effective in combination than either product...

    Addition of Long-Acting Beta Agonists for Asthma in Children

    Jessica Servey

    In children with persistent asthma who are already taking inhaled corticosteroids, the addition of a LABA does not lower the rate of exacerbations requiring oral steroids, rescue medication, or hospitalizations, but it improves measurable lung function.

    Photo Quiz

    Vaginal Swelling in a Newborn

    BABAFEMI ADENUGA, ROXANE I. HILTON CLARKE

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

    Curbside Consultation

    Discussing Treatment Options with Patients

    MICHAEL LEFEVRE

    Sometimes it may seem easier to inject a subacromial bursa or aspirate a knee joint than to engage in shared decision making with your patients about the use of aspirin for coronary artery disease prevention or a PSA test for prostate cancer screening. The path that led to...

    Tips from Other Journals

    When Is HIV Postexposure Prophylaxis Needed?

    KENNETH T. MOON

    Practice Guidelines

    ACC and AHA Update on Chronic Heart Failure Guidelines

    LIZ HORSLEY

    In 2009, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) published a focused update of the ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult.

    Letters to the Editor

    At-Risk, Pregnant Youth and Appropriate Use of Health Care

    CAROLINE WOODS

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Sudden Worsening of COPD

    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is also known as emphysema (em-feh-SEE-ma) or chronic bronchitis (bron-KI-tis). It is a lung problem that is usually caused by cigarette smoking. The air spaces in the lung are damaged, and it is hard for air to go in and out.



    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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