Hip Pain in Adults: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis - American Family Physician
Jan 15, 2021 - Adults commonly present to their family physicians with hip pain, and diagnosing the cause is important for prescribing effective therapy. Hip pain is usually located anteriorly, laterally, or posteriorly. Anterior hip pain includes referred pain from intra-abdominal or intrapelvic ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2021/0115/p81.html
Outpatient Management of COVID-19: Rapid Evidence Review - American Family Physician
Oct 15, 2020 - Common presenting symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue. However, patients may have a wide range of symptoms representing a spectrum of mild to severe illness. Symptoms in children tend to be milder and may include fever, cough, ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/1015/p478.html
Eating Disorders in Primary Care: Diagnosis and Management - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2021 - Eating disorders are potentially life-threatening conditions characterized by disordered eating and weight-control behaviors that impair physical health and psychosocial functioning. Early intervention may decrease the risk of long-term pathology and disability. Clinicians should ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2021/0101/p22.html
Abdominal Wall Pain: Clinical Evaluation, Differential Diagnosis, and Treatment - ...
Oct 1, 2018 - Abdominal wall pain is often mistaken for intra-abdominal visceral pain, resulting in expensive and unnecessary laboratory tests, imaging studies, consultations, and invasive procedures. Those evaluations generally are nondiagnostic, and lingering pain can become frustrating to the ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1001/p429.html
Dysphagia: Evaluation and Collaborative Management - American Family Physician
Jan 15, 2021 - Dysphagia is common but may be underreported. Specific symptoms, rather than their perceived location, should guide the initial evaluation and imaging. Obstructive symptoms that seem to originate in the throat or neck may actually be caused by distal esophageal lesions. Oropharyngeal ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2021/0115/p97.html
Hemorrhoids: Diagnosis and Treatment Options - American Family Physician
Feb 1, 2018 - Many Americans between 45 and 65 years of age experience hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoidal size, thrombosis, and location (i.e., proximal or distal to the dentate line) determine the extent of pain or discomfort. The history and physical examination must assess for risk factors and clinical ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0201/p172.html
Breast Cancer Screening: Common Questions and Answers - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2021 - Breast cancer is the most common nonskin cancer in women and accounts for 30% of all new cancers in the United States. The highest incidence of breast cancer is in women 70 to 74 years of age. Numerous risk factors are associated with the development of breast cancer. A risk assessment ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2021/0101/p33.html
Acute Chest Pain in Adults: Outpatient Evaluation - American Family Physician
Dec 15, 2020 - Approximately 1% of primary care office visits are for chest pain, and 2% to 4% of these patients will have unstable angina or myocardial infarction. Initial evaluation is based on determining whether the patient needs to be referred to a higher level of care to rule out acute coronary ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/1215/p721.html
Hemolytic Anemia: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis - American Family Physician
Sep 15, 2018 - Hemolytic anemia is defined by the premature destruction of red blood cells, and can be chronic or life-threatening. It should be part of the differential diagnosis for any normocytic or macrocytic anemia. Hemolysis may occur intravascularly, extravascularly in the reticuloendothelial ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0915/p354.html
Peripheral Neuropathy: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis - American Family Physician
Dec 15, 2020 - Peripheral neuropathy, a common neurologic problem encountered by family physicians, can be classified clinically by the anatomic pattern of presenting symptoms and, if indicated, by results of electrodiagnostic studies for axonal and demyelinating disease. The prevalence of peripheral ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2020/1215/p732.html
Labor Dystocia in Nulliparous Women - American Family Physician
Jan 15, 2021 - Dystocia (abnormally slow or protracted labor) accounts for 25% to 55% of primary cesarean deliveries. The latent phase of labor begins with onset of regular, painful contractions and continues until 6 cm of cervical dilation. Current recommendations are to avoid admission to labor and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2021/0115/p90.html
Acute Appendicitis: Efficient Diagnosis and Management - American Family Physician
Jul 1, 2018 - Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain in adults and children, with a lifetime risk of 8.6% in males and 6.7% in females. It is the most common nonobstetric surgical emergency during pregnancy. Findings from the history, physical examination, and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0701/p25.html
Migraine Headache Prophylaxis - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2019 - Migraines impose significant health and financial burdens. Approximately 38% of patients with episodic migraines would benefit from preventive therapy, but less than 13% take prophylactic medications. Preventive medication therapy reduces migraine frequency, severity, and ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p17.html
Vaginitis: Diagnosis and Treatment - American Family Physician
Mar 1, 2018 - Vaginitis is defined as any condition with symptoms of abnormal vaginal discharge, odor, irritation, itching, or burning. The most common causes of vaginitis are bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. Bacterial vaginosis is implicated in 40% to 50% of cases ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0301/p321.html
Well-Child Visits for Infants and Young Children - American Family Physician
Sep 15, 2018 - The well-child visit allows for comprehensive assessment of a child and the opportunity for further evaluation if abnormalities are detected. A complete history during the well-child visit includes information about birth history; prior screenings; diet; sleep; dental care; and medical,...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0915/p347.html
Diagnostic Imaging: Appropriate and Safe Use - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2021 - The use of diagnostic radiography has doubled in the past two decades. Image Gently (children) and Image Wisely (adults) are multidisciplinary initiatives that seek to reduce radiation exposure by eliminating unnecessary procedures and offering best practices. Patients with an estimated...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2021/0101/p42.html
Type 2 Diabetes Therapies: A STEPS Approach - American Family Physician
Feb 15, 2019 - A concise way to evaluate pharmacotherapy options for type 2 diabetes mellitus is to use the five patient-oriented STEPS criteria: safety, tolerability, efficacy, price, and simplicity. The first-line treatment option, metformin, is safe and fairly well-tolerated, has excellent ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0215/p237.html
First Trimester Bleeding: Evaluation and Management - American Family Physician
Feb 1, 2019 - Approximately one-fourth of pregnant women will experience bleeding in the first trimester. The differential diagnosis includes threatened abortion, early pregnancy loss, and ectopic pregnancy. Pain and heavy bleeding are associated with an increased risk of early pregnancy loss. ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0201/p166.html
Anticoagulation: Updated Guidelines for Outpatient Management - American Family Physician
Oct 1, 2019 - Anticoagulation therapy is recommended for preventing, treating, and reducing the recurrence of venous thromboembolism, and preventing stroke in persons with atrial fibrillation. Direct oral anticoagulants are first-line agents for eligible patients for treating venous thromboembolism ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/1001/p426.html
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Premenopausal Women - American Family Physician
Apr 1, 2019 - Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common symptom in women. The acronym PALM-COEIN facilitates classification, with PALM referring to structural etiologies (polyp, adenomyosis, leiomyoma, malignancy and hyperplasia), and COEIN referring to nonstructural etiologies (coagulopathy, ovulatory ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0401/p435.html
Kidney Stones: Treatment and Prevention - American Family Physician
Apr 15, 2019 - Kidney stones are a common disorder, with an annual incidence of eight cases per 1,000 adults. During an episode of renal colic, the first priority is to rule out conditions requiring immediate referral to an emergency department, then to alleviate pain, preferably with a nonsteroidal ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0415/p490.html
Evaluating Medical Decision-Making Capacity in Practice - American Family Physician
Jul 1, 2018 - Medical decision-making capacity is the ability of a patient to understand the benefits and risks of, and the alternatives to, a proposed treatment or intervention (including no treatment). Capacity is the basis of informed consent. Patients have medical decision-making capacity if they...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/0701/p40.html
Urine Drug Tests: Ordering and Interpreting Results - American Family Physician
Jan 1, 2019 - Urine drug testing is an essential component of monitoring patients who are receiving long-term opioid therapy, and it has been suggested for patients receiving long-term benzodiazepine or stimulant therapy. Family physicians should be familiar with the characteristics and capabilities ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2019/0101/p33.html
Mechanical Low Back Pain - American Family Physician
Oct 1, 2018 - Low back pain is usually nonspecific or mechanical. Mechanical low back pain arises intrinsically from the spine, intervertebral disks, or surrounding soft tissues. Clinical clues, or red flags, may help identify cases of nonmechanical low back pain and prompt further evaluation or ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1001/p421.html
Depression: Screening and Diagnosis - American Family Physician
Oct 15, 2018 - Depression affects an estimated 8% of persons in the United States and accounts for more than $210 billion in health care costs annually. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and American Academy of Family Physicians recommend screening for depression in the general adult ...
American Family Physician : Article
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2018/1015/p508.html