Diagnosis and Management of IBS in Adults

THAD WILKINS, CHRISTA PEPITONE, BIJU ALEX, ROBERT R. SCHADE

Irritable bowel syndrome is classified based on change in bowel habits, such as constipation-predominant, diarrhea-predominant, or mixed presentation. Abdominal pain is the most common accompanying symptom. Treatment focuses on symptom relief. Exercise can be recommended for...

Syphilis: A Reemerging Infection

PETER L. MATTEI, THOMAS M. BEACHKOFSKY, ROBERT T. GILSON, OLIVER J. WISCO

Rates of primary and secondary syphilis have increased in the past decade, warranting renewed attention to the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Nontreponemal screening tests followed by treponemal confirmatory tests continue to be standard diagnostics. Although...

Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Depression

MOLLY S. CLARK, KATE L. JANSEN, J. ANTHONY CLOY

Diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder are the same for children and adults, but children and adolescents may express irritability rather than sad or depressed mood. Pharmacotherapy is recommended for patients with moderate or severe depression. Cognitive behavior...

Large Tubular Colonic Mass with Hematochezia and Altered Bowel Habits

ABDUL REHMAN, JATINDER P. AHLUWALIA

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

Care of a Sexually Active Adolescent

DAVID A. KLEIN

The American Medical Association's Principles of Medical Ethics clearly state that physicians “shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.” However, the laws in American jurisdictions vary with respect to a minor's ability to consent to...

AAN, AANEM, and AAPMR Publish Guideline for Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

MICHAEL DEVITT

Painful diabetic neuropathy is a chronic disease that affects approximately 16 percent of patients who have diabetes mellitus. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), and the American Academy...

Amphetamines for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults

AARON SAGUIL, RICHARD SHERIDAN

Amphetamines improve ADHD symptom severity but, when compared with placebo, they are associated with increased discontinuation rates because of adverse effects. There does not appear to be a difference among dosages or between the immediate- and sustained-release formulations.

Weight Loss for Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

NATHAN HITZEMAN, SIJIE JOY SHEN

There are insufficient high-quality studies to determine patient-oriented outcomes of weight loss for the treatment of fatty liver disease. Nonetheless, weight loss remains a reasonable goal because it may reduce liver inflammation and improve comorbidities. In two of the...

AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

HPV4 Vaccine Linked to Notable Decrease in HPV Cases Among Young Women | Interactive Preventive Health Records Increase Use of Preventive Care Services | AAFP METRIC Module Developed to Keep Children's Vaccinations Up-to-Date | HHS Initiative to Help States with Health Care...

Should Family Physicians Use Coronary Artery Calcium Scores to Screen for Coronary Artery Disease?Yes: Screening Improves CAD Risk Management in Selected Patients

JONATHAN R. MURROW

Sudden death is often the first manifestation of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD). One-third of deaths from CAD in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study occurred without warning signs, and there was no prior diagnosis of CAD in most of these persons.1 For...

Should Family Physicians Use Coronary Artery Calcium Scores to Screen for Coronary Artery Disease?No: Screening is Unproven, Expensive, and Potentially Harmful

MARK H. EBELL

Screening for disease is challenging because we must minimize the possibility of taking someone who is perfectly healthy and making them worse off. Even relatively innocuous blood tests can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, and imaging studies have the added danger of...

Consider Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Patients with Syncope

LESLEY KAVI

Heavy Metal Poisoning Should Be Recognized as a Cause of Hypertension in Children

Syphilis: What It Is and How It Is Treated

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that is spread through sexual contact (for example, vaginal, oral, or anal sex). If untreated, it can cause serious damage to your heart, lungs, nervous system, and other organs.

Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is stomach discomfort or pain that happens with constipation, diarrhea, or both.