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A Clinical Approach to Diagnosing Wrist Pain - American Family Physician

Nov 1, 2005 - A detailed history alone may lead to a specific diagnosis in approximately 70 percent of patients who have wrist pain. Patients who present with spontaneous onset of wrist pain, who have a vague or distant history of trauma, or whose activities consist of repetitive loading could be ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/1101/p1753.html

A Diagnostic Approach to Pruritus - American Family Physician

Jul 15, 2011 - Pruritus can be a symptom of a distinct dermatologic condition or of an occult underlying systemic disease. Of the patients referred to a dermatologist for generalized pruritus with no apparent primary cutaneous cause, 14 to 24 percent have a systemic etiology. In the absence of a ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0715/p195.html

A Primary Care Approach to the Patient with Claudication - American Family Physician

Feb 15, 2000 - Peripheral arterial occlusive disease occurs in about 18 percent of persons over 70 years of age. Usually, patients who have this disease present with intermittent claudication with pain in the calf, thigh or buttock that is elicited by exertion and relieved with a few minutes of rest. ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0215/p1027.html

A Simple Cough Algorithm for Children with Chronic Cough - POEMs - American Family ...

Nov 15, 2013 - In children with chronic cough, a simple approach of ruling out specific indicators of cause, followed by treating a wet cough with antibiotics, results in a significant decrease in the duration of cough. Some of the causes of chronic cough were reactive airway disease, bronchiectasis, ...

American Family Physician : POEMs

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/1115/od1.html

A Systematic Approach to the Evaluation of a Limping Child - American Family Physician

Nov 15, 2015 - A limp is defined as a deviation from a normal age-appropriate gait pattern resulting in an uneven, jerky, or laborious gait. It can be caused by pain, weakness, or deformity as a result of a variety of conditions. Transient synovitis is the most common diagnosis. Other causes of acute ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/1115/p908.html

AAN Releases Recommendations for the Diagnostic Evaluation of the Child with Status ...

May 15, 2007 - The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the Child Neurology Society have created recommendations for evaluation and diagnostic laboratory testing of children with status epilepticus.

American Family Physician : Practice Guidelines

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0515/p1569.html

AAO-HNSF Releases Guideline on Managing Tinnitus - Practice Guidelines - American ...

Jul 1, 2015 - Tinnitus, the perception of sound without an external source, can be caused by a variety of conditions. Prevalence in the United States is approximately 10% to 15%. It can be categorized as primary (idiopathic and accompanied by or not by sensorineural hearing loss) and secondary ...

American Family Physician : Practice Guidelines

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0701/p65.html

ACEP Policy on Evaluating Patients with Syncope in the Emergency Department - Practice ...

Aug 15, 2008 - In 2007, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) updated its 2001 clinical policy on assessing patients with syncope in the emergency department. Syncope, which involves a brief loss of consciousness followed by spontaneous recovery, accounts for 1 to 1.5 percent of ...

American Family Physician : Practice Guidelines

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0815/p516.html

Acute Abdominal Pain in Children - American Family Physician

Jun 1, 2003 - Acute abdominal pain in children presents a diagnostic dilemma. Although many cases of acute abdominal pain are benign, some require rapid diagnosis and treatment to minimize morbidity. Numerous disorders can cause abdominal pain. The most common medical cause is gastroenteritis, and ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0601/p2321.html

AHA/ACCF Statement on the Evaluation of Syncope - Practice Guidelines - American Family...

Jul 1, 2006 - The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) recently released a scientific statement on the evaluation of syncope (i.e., transient loss of consciousness).

American Family Physician : Practice Guidelines

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0701/p179.html

An Office Approach to the Diagnosis of Chronic Cough - American Family Physician

Dec 1, 1998 - Chronic cough is a common problem in patients who visit family physicians. The three most common causes of chronic cough in those who are referred to pulmonary specialists are postnasal drip, asthma and gastroesophageal reflux. The initial treatment of patients with cough is often ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/1201/p2015.html

Anterior Hip Pain - American Family Physician

Oct 15, 1999 - Anterior hip pain is a common complaint with many possible causes. Apophyseal avulsion and slipped capital femoral epiphysis should not be overlooked in adolescents. Muscle and tendon strains are common in adults. Subsequent to accurate diagnosis, strains should improve with rest and ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/1015/p1687.html

Approach to the Adult Patient with Fever of Unknown Origin - American Family Physician

Dec 1, 2003 - Fever of unknown origin (FUO) in adults is defined as a temperature higher than 38.3 degrees C (100.9 degrees F) that lasts for more than three weeks with no obvious source despite appropriate investigation. The four categories of potential etiology of FUO are classic, nosocomial, ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/1201/p2223.html

Assessment of Asymptomatic Microscopic Hematuria in Adults - American Family Physician

Dec 1, 2013 - Although routine screening for bladder cancer is not recommended, microscopic hematuria is often incidentally discovered by primary care physicians. The American Urological Association has published an updated guideline for the management of asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, which is ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/1201/p747.html

Bleeding and Bruising: A Diagnostic Work-up - American Family Physician

Apr 15, 2008 - Primary care physicians are often asked about easy bruising, excessive bleeding, or risk of bleeding before surgery. A thorough history, including a family history, will guide the appropriate work-up, and a physical examination may provide clues to diagnosis. A standardized bleeding ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0415/p1117.html

Causes and Evaluation of Chronic Dyspnea - American Family Physician

Jul 15, 2012 - Chronic dyspnea is shortness of breath that lasts more than one month. The perception of dyspnea varies based on behavioral and physiologic responses. Dyspnea that is greater than expected with the degree of exertion is a symptom of disease. Most cases of dyspnea result from asthma, ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2012/0715/p173.html

Chronic Cough After Acute Viral Bronchiolitis: Suggestions from the ACCP - Practice ...

May 15, 2019 - To address the high prevalence of bronchiolitis, the effects of chronic cough on patients' quality of life, and adverse effects from inappropriate use of medications, an expert panel from the American College of Chest Physicians performed systematic reviews to develop several ...

American Family Physician : Practice Guidelines

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0515/p654.html

Chronic Cough: Evaluation and Management - American Family Physician

Nov 1, 2017 - Although chronic cough in adults (cough lasting longer than eight weeks) can be caused by many etiologies, four conditions account for most cases: upper airway cough syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease/laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, asthma, and nonasthmatic eosinophilic ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1101/p575.html

Chronic Dyspnea: Diagnosis and Evaluation - American Family Physician

May 1, 2020 - Dyspnea is a symptom arising from a complex interplay of diseases and physiologic states and is commonly encountered in primary care. It is considered chronic if present for more than one month. As a symptom, dyspnea is a predictor for all-cause mortality. The likeliest causes of ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/0501/p542.html

Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women - American Family Physician

Mar 1, 2016 - Chronic pelvic pain in women is defined as persistent, noncyclic pain perceived to be in structures related to the pelvis and lasting more than six months. Often no specific etiology can be identified, and it can be conceptualized as a chronic regional pain syndrome or functional ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2016/0301/p380.html

Clinical Diagnosis of Lyme Disease Frequently Misses the "Bull’s Eye" - POEMs - ...

Apr 1, 2018 - For children with suspected Lyme disease but without a classic bull's-eye lesion (erythema migrans of at least 5 cm), check serology rather than rely on your clinical impression. In this study, 12% of the children not suspected of having Lyme disease did have Lyme disease, and 31% of ...

American Family Physician : POEMs

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0401/p474.html

Clinical Evaluation of Bleeding and Bruising in Primary Care - American Family Physician

Feb 15, 2016 - Bleeding and bruising are common symptoms in the primary care setting. The patient history can help determine whether the bruising or bleeding is abnormal. The International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis has developed a bleeding assessment tool that can be used to indicate ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2016/0215/p279.html

Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Presenting as Benign Dermatoses - American Family Physician

May 15, 1999 - Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, also known as mycosis fungoides, is a malignancy of the T helper (CD4+) cells. Diagnosis is difficult early in the course of this disease because it mimics several benign skin disorders, including eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis. Cutaneous T-cell ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/0515/p2809.html

Diagnosing Night Sweats - American Family Physician

Mar 1, 2003 - Night sweats are a common outpatient complaint, yet literature on the subject is scarce. Tuberculosis and lymphoma are diseases in which night sweats are a dominant symptom, but these are infrequently found to be the cause of night sweats in modern practice. While these diseases remain ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p1019.html

Diagnosing the Cause of Chest Pain - American Family Physician

Nov 15, 2005 - Chest pain presents a diagnostic challenge in outpatient family medicine. Noncardiac causes are common, but it is important not to overlook serious conditions such as an acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary embolism, or pneumonia. In addition to a thorough history and physical ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/1115/p2012.html

Diagnosis and Management of Adnexal Masses - American Family Physician

Oct 15, 2009 - Adnexal masses represent a spectrum of conditions from gynecologic and nongynecologic sources. They may be benign or malignant. The initial detection and evaluation of an adnexal mass requires a high index of suspicion, a thorough history and physical examination, and careful attention ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/1015/p815.html

Diagnosis of Acute Abdominal Pain in Older Patients - American Family Physician

Nov 1, 2006 - Acute abdominal pain is a common presenting complaint in older patients. Presentation may differ from that of the younger patient and is often complicated by coexistent disease, delays in presentation, and physical and social barriers. The physical examination can be misleadingly ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/1101/p1537.html

Diagnosis of Ear Pain - American Family Physician

Mar 1, 2008 - Many patients in primary care present with ear pain (otalgia). When the ear is the source of the pain (primary otalgia), the ear examination is usually abnormal. When the ear is not the source of the pain (secondary otalgia), the ear examination is typically normal. The cause of primary...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0301/p621.html

Diagnosis of Heel Pain - American Family Physician

Oct 15, 2011 - Heel pain is a common presenting symptom in ambulatory clinics. There are many causes, but a mechanical etiology is most common. Location of pain can be a guide to the proper diagnosis. The most common diagnosis is plantar fasciitis, a condition that leads to medial plantar heel pain, ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/1015/p909.html

Diagnosis of Stridor in Children - American Family Physician

Nov 15, 1999 - Stridor is a sign of upper airway obstruction. In children, laryngomalacia is the most common cause of chronic stridor, while croup is the most common cause of acute stridor. Generally, an inspiratory stridor suggests airway obstruction above the glottis while an expiratory stridor is ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/1999/1115/p2289.html

Diagnostic Approach to Chronic Constipation in Adults - American Family Physician

Aug 1, 2011 - Constipation is traditionally defined as three or fewer bowel movements per week. Risk factors for constipation include female sex, older age, inactivity, low caloric intake, low-fiber diet, low income, low educational level, and taking a large number of medications. Chronic ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0801/p299.html

Diagnostic Approach to Palpitations - American Family Physician

Feb 15, 2005 - Palpitations-sensations of a rapid or irregular heartbeat-are most often caused by cardiac arrhythmias or anxiety. Most patients with arrhythmias do not complain of palpitations. However, any arrhythmia, including sinus tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0215/p743.html

Diagnostic Approach to Patients with Tinnitus - American Family Physician

Jan 15, 2014 - Tinnitus, a common symptom encountered in family medicine, is defined as the perception of noise in the absence of an acoustic stimulus outside of the body. Because tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease, its underlying cause must be determined to best help patients. Although tinnitus ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/0115/p106.html

Diagnostic Approach to Polyarticular Joint Pain - American Family Physician

Sep 15, 2003 - Identifying the cause of polyarticular joint pain can be difficult because of the extensive differential diagnosis. A thorough history and a complete physical examination are essential. Six clinical factors are helpful in narrowing the possible causes: disease chronology, inflammation, ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0915/p1151.html

Diagnostic Approach to the Confused Elderly Patient - American Family Physician

Mar 15, 1998 - Confusion in the elderly patient is usually a symptom of delirium or dementia, but it may also occur in major depression and psychoses. Until another cause is identified, the confused patient should be assumed to have delirium, which is often reversible with treatment of the underlying ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0315/p1358.html

Diagnostic Approach to Tinnitus - American Family Physician

Jan 1, 2004 - Tinnitus is a common disorder with many possible causes. Most cases of tinnitus are subjective, but occasionally the tinnitus can be heard by an examiner. Otologic problems, especially hearing loss, are the most common causes of subjective tinnitus. Common causes of conductive hearing ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0101/p120.html

Diagnostic Evaluation of Dyspnea - American Family Physician

Feb 15, 1998 - Dyspnea is a common symptom and, in most cases, can be effectively managed in the office by the family physician. The differential diagnosis is composed of four general categories: cardiac, pulmonary, mixed cardiac or pulmonary, and noncardiac or nonpulmonary. Most cases of dyspnea are ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0215/p711.html

Diagnostic Imaging of Acute Abdominal Pain in Adults - American Family Physician

Apr 1, 2015 - Acute abdominal pain is a common presentation in the outpatient setting and can represent conditions ranging from benign to life-threatening. If the patient history, physical examination, and laboratory testing do not identify an underlying cause of pain and if serious pathology remains...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0401/p452.html

Differential Diagnosis of Polyarticular Arthritis - American Family Physician

Jul 1, 2015 - Polyarticular arthritis is commonly encountered in clinical settings and has multiple etiologies. The first step is to distinguish between true articular pain and nonarticular or periarticular conditions by recognizing clinical patterns through the history and physical examination. Once...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0701/p35.html

Differential Diagnosis of Tremor - FPIN's Clinical Inquiries - American Family Physician

May 1, 2008 - The most common tremor in primary care is an exaggerated physiologic tremor, followed by essential tremor and tremors caused by Parkinson's disease.

American Family Physician : FPIN's Clinical Inquiries

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/0501/p1305.html

Diverticulitis: Predicting Which Patients with Acute Abdominal Pain Have the Disease - ...

Sep 15, 2020 - Is it possible to determine which patients with acute abdominal pain are likely to have diverticulitis and therefore do not require imaging?

American Family Physician : Point-of-Care Guides

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/0915/p371.html

Dizziness: A Diagnostic Approach - American Family Physician

Aug 15, 2010 - Dizziness accounts for an estimated 5 percent of primary care clinic visits. The patient history can generally classify dizziness into one of four categories: vertigo, disequilibrium, presyncope, or lightheadedness. The main causes of vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0815/p361.html

Dizziness: Approach to Evaluation and Management - American Family Physician

Feb 1, 2017 - Dizziness is a common yet imprecise symptom. It was traditionally divided into four categories based on the patient’s history: vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, and light-headedness. However, the distinction between these symptoms is of limited clinical usefulness. Patients have ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0201/p154.html

Dysuria: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis in Adults - American Family Physician

Nov 1, 2015 - The most common cause of acute dysuria is infection, especially cystitis. Other infectious causes include urethritis, sexually transmitted infections, and vaginitis. Noninfectious inflammatory causes include a foreign body in the urinary tract and dermatologic conditions. ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/1101/p778.html

Ear Pain: Diagnosing Common and Uncommon Causes - American Family Physician

Jan 1, 2018 - Otalgia (ear pain) is a common presentation in the primary care setting with many diverse causes. Pain that originates from the ear is called primary otalgia, and the most common causes are otitis media and otitis externa. Examination of the ear usually reveals abnormal findings in ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0101/p20.html

Evaluating Dysphagia - American Family Physician

Jun 15, 2000 - Dysphagia is a problem that commonly affects patients cared for by family physicians in the office, as hospital inpatients and as nursing home residents. Familiar medical problems, including cerebrovascular accidents, gastroesophageal reflux disease and medication-related side effects, ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0615/p3639.html

Evaluating Fever of Unidentifiable Source in Young Children - American Family Physician

Jun 15, 2007 - Most children will have been evaluated for a febrile illness by 36 months of age. Although the majority will have a self-limited viral illness, studies done before the use of Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccines showed that approximately 10 percent of ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0615/p1805.html

Evaluating Hoarseness: Keeping Your Patient's Voice Healthy - American Family Physician

Jun 1, 1998 - Hoarseness is the term often used by patients to describe changes in their voice quality. The causes of hoarseness are determined after obtaining a detailed medical history of the circumstances preceding the onset of hoarseness and performing a thorough physical examination. The latter ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0601/p2775.html

Evaluating the Febrile Patient with a Rash - American Family Physician

Aug 15, 2000 - The differential diagnosis for febrile patients with a rash is extensive. Diseases that present with fever and rash are usually classified according to the morphology of the primary lesion. Rashes can be categorized as maculopapular (centrally and peripherally distributed), petechial, ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0815/p804.html

Evaluation and Diagnosis of Wrist Pain: A Case-Based Approach - American Family Physician

Apr 15, 2013 - Patients with wrist pain commonly present with an acute injury or spontaneous onset of pain without a definite traumatic event. A fall onto an outstretched hand can lead to a scaphoid fracture, which is the most commonly fractured carpal bone. Conventional radiography alone can miss up ...

American Family Physician : Article

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2013/0415/p568.html