• Articles

    Overview of Refractive Surgery

    KRAIG SCOT BOWER, ERIC D. WEICHEL, THOMAS J. KIM

    Refractive surgery procedures include radial keratotomy (RK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK) and intrastromal corneal rings (ICR). Because of increased media coverage and advertising of these...

    Interstitial Cystitis: Urgency and Frequency Syndrome

    JULIUS F. METTS

    The diagnosis of interstitial cystitis, a painful, chronic disease of the bladder, is often a challenge and involves ruling out other conditions that affect the bladder.

    Evaluation and Management of Infants and Young Children with Fever

    MICHAEL LUSZCZAK

    Studies conducted since publication of the 1993 practice guideline for the management of fever without source have led to several minor modifications, but the subject remains controversial.

    Challenges in Pain Management at the End of Life

    KARL E. MILLER, MARTHA M. MILLER, MONICA R. JOLLEY

    Pain control at the end of life requires an understanding of various pain syndromes and the use of appropriate strategies to manage changes in the patient's pain pattern.

    Inside AFP

    Introducing Four New Family Physician Diarists

    Janis Wright

    As you'll see on page 1178 of this issue, “Diary from a Week of Practice” has undergone a change in contributors. Earlier this year, Walter L. Larimore, M.D., who had for the past nine years coordinated “Diary from a Week in Practice” along with John R. Hartman, M.D., left...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Rosemarie Sweeney, Matthew Neff

    AAFP Compiles Resources for Physicians in Aftermath of Terrorist Attacks | Endocrinology Groups Announce New Diabetes Guidelines | Performance-Enhancing Supplement Use Is Increasing Among U.S. Youth | HRSA Provides New Tool for Improving Cultural Competency | Two...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Sarah Morgan, Lori Parry

    It is a widely known fact that men and women use different navigational strategies to get to the same place in the real world. However, in the virtual world minor navigational differences are magnified, with the men performing better than women in computer-generated spaces....

    Editorials

    Fever Without Source in Infants and Young Children—A Hot Potato?

    WILLIAM F. MISER

    Although fever is common in infants and young children three to 36 months of age, its management remains challenging and controversial. In this issue of American Family Physician,1 Luszczak provides an update of the 1993 practice guideline on the management of febrile infants...

    Managing Pain at the End of Life

    ALAN B. DOUGLASS

    As a patient nears the end of life, treatment goals change from measures aimed at prolonging life via cure or remission of disease to the provision of palliative care. Palliative care focuses on maximizing the quality of the patient's remaining life by relieving suffering...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    The outreach program has a motor coach equipped with examination rooms, a pharmacy, a radiography unit, a basic lab and a patient education area that travels to homeless shelters where medical students and family practice residents do clinical rotations. A man who was...

    Photo Quiz

    A Widened Mediastinum

    ANUJ BHARGAVA, ZAFAR IQBAL

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

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    What Is the Best Way to Treat Trichomoniasis in Women?

    JOHN EPLING

    Nitroimidazoles (such as metronidazole [Flagyl]) are the most effective treatment for parasitological cure of trichomoniasis. Single-dose treatment is as effective as longer term treatment but increases side effects.

    Practice Guidelines

    ACIP Releases Guidelines on the Prevention and Control of Influenza

    MONICA PREBOTH

    The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations on the prevention and control of influenza for the 2001–2002 influenza season.

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Monica Preboth

    AAP Statement on the Use of Fruit Juice in Children | Resistance Training in Older Adults | Topical Solution for Nail Fungus | Paroxetine Approved for Generalized Anxiety | SAMHSA Brochures on Substance Abuse in Adolescence | FDA Approval of Pulse Dye Lasers to Treat Psoriasis

    Curbside Consultation

    Confronted by an Unexpected Laboratory Result

    LARRY DICKEY

    As we can see, an inadvertent laboratory test result may lead to a cascade of further tests—possibly resulting in unnecessary morbidity or even (rarely) mortality. Each year, millions of screening tests are ordered in violation of recommended guidelines—because of simple...

    Letters to the Editor

    Cultural Controversies on Child Abuse

    Tips from Other Journals

    Can Two Questions Screen for Alcohol and Substance Abuse?

    KARL E. MILLER

    Risk of Dialysis Treatment Before Renal Transplant

    BILL ZEPF

    Television Viewing Time Increases Risk for Obesity in Children

    KARL E. MILLER

    Treatment for Head Lice in School-Aged Children

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Statin Use in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Reviewing the Use of Meningococcal Vaccine

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Screening Spirometry for Detection of COPD

    KARL E. MILLER

    WBC Count Predicts Increased Mortality in Acute MI

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Three Clinical Tests Reliably Diagnose Rotator Cuff Tears

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Clinical Decision Aid for Discontinuing In-Hospital CPR

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Antibiotic Therapy for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    What Should I Know About Refractive Surgery?

    Refractive surgery is an alternative to wearing glasses or contact lenses. It can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The different kinds of surgeries are explained below.

    Interstitial Cystitis: A Bladder Problem

    Interstitial cystitis is a chronic bladder problem. About 750,000 Americans have interstitial cystitis. Most of them are women. People with interstitial cystitis have a bladder wall that is inflamed and irritated (red and sore). This inflammation can scar the bladder or make...



    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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