• Articles

    Acute and Chronic Urticaria: Evaluation and Treatment

    Afi M. Semenya, Stefan Pienkowski, Prakhya Bhatnagar

    Diagnosis of acute or chronic urticaria is usually based on history and physical examination findings. Preferred acute urticaria treatment includes second-generation H1 antihistamines; first-line treatment of chronic urticaria follows a stepped plan that includes second...

    Hepatitis B: Part I. Updates on Screening and Prevention

    Richard Moore, II, Claire L. Porter, Jama M. Darling

    All adults should be screened at least once for hepatitis B using triple panel testing, and vaccination should be offered to all adults 19 to 59 years of age regardless of risk.

    Hepatitis B: Part II. Updates on Diagnosis and Therapy

    Richard Moore, II, Claire L. Porter, Jama M. Darling

    Chronic hepatitis B infection is diagnosed when hepatitis B surface antigen is present for at least 6 months. Therapy with oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogues can reduce the risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related mortality.

    Multiple Myeloma: Diagnosis and Treatment

    Pamela R. Hughes, Nelson E. Shreve, Patrick A. Bloecher

    Multiple myeloma is a hematologic malignancy of plasma cells that affects approximately 36,000 people annually in the United States, with a median age at diagnosis of 69 years. Diagnosis involves laboratory tests, imaging, and bone marrow analysis. Treatment is determined by...

    Croup: Rapid Evidence Review

    Alexandria Cooke, Sara Conway, Leslie Griffin

    Croup is a common childhood respiratory illness causing a characteristic barking cough, hoarseness, and inspiratory stridor. It is treated with corticosteroids and nebulized epinephrine. Recurrent croup should prompt evaluation for an underlying anatomic abnormality or...

    Aseptic and Bacterial Meningitis: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

    Lindy Krebs, Barbara Durden, Aaron Saguil

    Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges from viral, bacterial, fungal, noninfectious, or unknown causes. Viral pathogens are responsible for up to 60% of cases. Meningitis may cause neck stiffness, fever, headache, and altered mentation.

    Editorials

    Obesity in Pregnancy: Updates and Considerations

    Kathryn A. McKenna, Donna Cohen

    Preconception, antepartum, and postpartum care for patients who are obese.

    What Family Physicians Should Know About Medetomidine, a New Contaminant in the Illicit Drug Supply

    Judy Chertok, Navid Roder

    Rapid changes in the drug supply, including additives and contaminants, can have profound clinical impacts. Since 2024, a new additive, medetomidine, has been implicated in overdose and complicated withdrawal in several major metropolitan areas.

    Graham Center Policy One-Pager

    Rural Family Physicians Provide Essential Contraceptive Care

    Kelly Dougherty, Anuradha Jetty, Alison N. Huffstetler

    Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), including intrauterine devices (IUDs) and etonogestrel single rod implants, are effective in preventing unintended pregnancy. In the post-Dobbs era, it is important for family physicians to expand access to LARCs because previous...

    Medicine by the Numbers

    Sustained-Release Naltrexone for Opioid Dependence

    Ross Stanton, Joshua Lujan, Christina Valerio

    A color recommendation of yellow (unclear benefits) is assigned for the use of sustained-release naltrexone for opioid dependence because of significant limitations of the findings.

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Accuracy of Methods Used to Diagnose Postpartum Hemorrhage in the First 24 Hours After Vaginal Birth

    Meera Sunder

    Visual estimation of blood loss is not very sensitive (22%-48%) but is very specific (97%-99%) when used to diagnose postpartum hemorrhage in patients who deliver vaginally in a hospital setting. In contrast, using a calibrated drape plus observations (eg, heart rate, blood...

    Topical Fluoride as a Cause of Dental Fluorosis in Children

    Alvin Soto-Soto, Alexis B. Reedy-Cooper

    Children aged 1 to 2 years who begin using toothpaste with higher fluoride concentrations (1,000 ppm or more vs less than 1,000 ppm) are at increased risk of developing dental fluorosis (mottling or discoloration) in permanent teeth.

    STEPS

    Intranasal Epinephrine (Neffy) for Emergency Treatment of Type I Allergic Reactions

    Jennifer Wolf, Jessica Fournier

    Intranasal epinephrine is an alternative to current injectable forms of emergency epinephrine. It may be a functional tool for patients who are hesitant or resistant to using needles, but it is more expensive than current injectable options.

    U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Adults

    The USPSTF recommends screening for depression in the adult population, including pregnant and postpartum persons, as well as older adults. The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for suicide risk...

    Putting Prevention Into Practice

    Screening for Depression and Suicide Risk in Adults

    Iris R. Mabry-Hernandez, Susan J. Ching

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

    Lown Right Care

    Continuous External Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring During Labor

    MaryAnn Dakkak, Dominique Sanchez, Helen Haskell, John James

    A collaboration between AFP and the Lown Institute promotes a vision of delivering health care that is based on the evidence, balanced in its approach, and focused on the patient.

    POEMs

    18-Month Recovery From Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Is More Frequent After Surgery Than After Corticosteroid Injections

    Henry C. Barry

    FluScoreVax Incorporates Vaccination History to Accurately Predict Influenza Risk

    David Slawson

    Mailed FIT Kit Results in Highest Colorectal Cancer Screening Rate for Adults Aged 45 to 49 Years

    David Slawson

    Vaping Is Better Than Nicotine Replacement Gum for Smoking Cessation

    Allen F. Shaughnessy

    Photo Quiz

    Abdominal Mass

    John Sauret, Nicolas Ciminelli

    A 62-year-old man presented with a slowly growing left abdominal mass.

    Persistent Hypopigmented Rash

    Alison Small, Lauryn Orsillo

    An 11-year-old boy presented with a rash on his back, abdomen, arms, and legs.

    FPIN's Clinical Inquiries

    SGLT-2 Inhibitors and Increased Risk of Urogenital Infections

    Julia Swanson, Kathleen Lucier, Maikha Jean-Baptiste, Jon O. Neher

    Physicians should counsel adults treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors about an increased risk of genital infections.

    Diagnostic Tests

    Q-Pad Test System to Measure A1C

    Megan Mendez Miller, Sesilya Whaley

    The Q-Pad Test represents a novel, at-home method for measuring A1C, using menstrual blood. Although multiple small observational studies have shown close agreement with venous A1C values, limitations such as potential selection and observer bias, lack of independent...

    Point-of-Care Guides

    Bleeding Risk in Patients 80 Years and Older Taking a Direct Oral Anticoagulant

    Mark Ebell

    In people 80 years and older taking a direct oral anticoagulant, who is at increased risk for major hemorrhage?

    Practice Guidelines

    First Aid: Guidelines From the American Heart Association and American Red Cross

    Michelle Nelson

    This guideline from the American Heart Association and American Red Cross provides guidance on administering first aid.

    Vitamin D for Prevention of Disease: Guidelines From the Endocrine Society

    MaryAnn Dakkak, Amy He, Amy Min He

    The Endocrine Society has updated its guidelines on the evidence for vitamin D supplementation and testing for disease prevention.

    Letters to the Editor

    Use of No-Needle Open-Ended Approach for Vasectomy

    Louis A. Kazal, Jr

    Reply: James J. Arnold, David Villaneuva, Melissa Jane Puntkatalee

    From Funding to Accountability: Strengthening Community-Based Residency Training

    Schawanya K. Rattanapitoon, Nathkapach K. Rattanapitoon

    Funded Educational Content

    CME Bulletin: Mastering COVID-19 — Harnessing Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Primary Care Excellence

    Benjamin Silverberg

    Funded Content by Wiley: This grant-funded resource should not be considered an AAFP endorsement or recommendation of the grantor’s products, services, policies, or procedures. Journal editors were not involved in the development of this content.

    Corrections

    Corrections

    Incorrect CME Quiz answer. In the “Answers to This Issue's CME Quiz” box (February 2026, p. 201), the answer listed for Q7 was incorrect. The correct answer should have been listed as “B.” The online CME quiz has been corrected.

    Corrections

    Incorrect algorithm information. “Newborn Respiratory Distress: Evaluation and Management” (January 2026, p. 37) included extraneous information in the “Follow neonatal resuscitation algorithm” section of Figure 1. The online version of the article has been corrected.



    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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