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July 1, 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Articles

    Common Causes of Vision Loss in Elderly Patients

    DAVID A. QUILLEN

    The principal causes of loss of vision in elderly patients (age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy) may be detected and monitored with careful annual eye examinations that include dilation.

      Ludwig's Angina in Children

      RICHARD W. HARTMANN, JR.

      Ludwig's angina is a potentially life-threatening diffuse inflammation of the submandibular and sublingual spaces. Following treatment with high doses of penicillin, most patients recover without complications.

      • PtEd

      Prevention and Treatment of Traveler's Diarrhea

      GREGORY JUCKETT

      Judicious eating and drinking to avoid contaminated foodstuffs is essential in preventing traveler's diarrhea. The condition can usually be treated initially with loperamide; a fluoroquinolone can be added if loperamide fails to stop the diarrhea. Because drug resistance is...

      • PtEd

      Vasectomy Techniques

      TIMOTHY L. CLENNEY, JAMES C. HIGGINS

      Isolation of the vas is key to a successful vasectomy. Techniques for managing the vasal ends include surgical clipping, cautery, fascial interposition and the open-ended technique.

        A Rational Approach to the Treatment of Hypertension in Special Populations

        W. DALLAS HALL

        Hypertension in black patients is usually characterized by a low-renin, volume-expanded and salt-sensitive state. Isolated systolic hypertension and combined systolic and diastolic hypertension are common in older patients. Diuretics and calcium channel antagonists are the...

          Responses to Questions About the Specialty of Family Practice as a Career

          JULEA G. GARNER, JOSEPH E. SCHERGER, JOHN W. BEASLEY, WM. MACMILLAN RODNEY, DAVID E. SWEE, ELIZABETH A. GARRETT, NORMAN B. KAHN, JR.

          Updated information is presented on a variety of subjects about family practice, including income, scope of the specialty, continuing medical education, board certification and residency training.

          • Alg
          • PtEd

          Screening for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

          LINDA M. FRENCH, FREDERICK R. DIETZ

          Ultrasound imaging may have a role in the surveillance of mild hip abnormalities in infants and possibly in selective screening for developmental dysplasia.

          • Alg

          Prevention of Osteoporosis and Fractures

          PAUL ULLOM-MINNICH

          Some risk factors for fractures can be modified or eliminated. Based on cost-effectiveness and clinical efficacy, combined calcium and vitamin D supplementation should be first-line therapy in patients at risk for osteoporotic fractures.

          • PtEd

          Disorders of Puberty

          RICHARD D. BLONDELL, MICHAEL B. FOSTER, KAMLESH C. DAVE

          If the clinician has an adequate working knowledge of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, the cause of aberrant puberty can often be identified with a focused medical history, a directed physical examination and selected diagnostic testing.

          • PtEd

          Depression in Women: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations

          SUBHASH C. BHATIA, SHASHI K. BHATIA

          In evaluating and treating depression in women, family physicians should consider gender-related biopsychosocial differences, as well as phases of the reproductive cycle.

            Clarification

            In a letter to the editor on the use of melatonin for insomnia (April 15, 1998, page 1783), the author, Ray Sahelian, M.D., failed to disclose that he was the author of a book on melatonin.

            Inside AFP

            AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

              Newsletter

              Rosemarie Sweeney, Verna L. Rose

              Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News Now.

              Quantum Sufficit

                Quantum Sufficit

                Monica A. Preboth, Shyla Wright

                Continuous irrigation makes full range of motion possible in patients with an infected finger, reports Physician's Weekly. Seven men with purulent tenosynovitis had a butterfly catheter (with the needle removed and holes cut in the sides) inserted in the tendon sheath from...

                Editorials

                  Family Practice as a Career Choice

                  JAY SIWEK

                  As a specialty choice, family practice has come of age. It is the second most popular choice of residency among medical students, second only to internal medicine. Surprising as it may seem, as a career choice family practice is number one. More office-based physicians in the...

                    Pain, Depression and Survival

                    PETER S. STAATS

                    Adequate pain relief has an obvious positive effect on a patient's quality of life. However, recent data suggest that pain control also improves morbidity and mortality, that pain relief administered before surgery and during the postoperative period improves clinical...

                    Diary from a Week in Practice

                      Diary from a Week in Practice

                      CAG received an excellent suggestion from our nurse practitioner, Lori White, for giving eye drops to children and adults. The patient lies supine with the eyes closed, and another person places two drops in the medial canthus of each eye. Once the eyes are opened, the...

                      Photo Quiz

                      Conference Highlights

                        Conference Highlights

                        Verna L. Rose

                        (48th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology) Women have a higher short-term mortality rate after myocardial infarction than men, but only when the myocardial infarction occurs before the age of 75 years. This is the conclusion of an analysis of data...

                        Family Practice International

                          Family Practice International

                          Anne D. Walling

                          (Australia—Australian Family Physician, March 1999, p. 223.) Postnasal drip refers to the accumulation of mucus in the postnasal space, caused by hypersecretion from the paranasal sinuses or a disturbance of normal drainage. In addition to “congestion” and local discomfort,...

                          Curbside Consultation

                            A Troubled Teen: Matters of Confidentiality

                            SUBHASH C. BHATIA

                            This case highlights a family physician's dilemma regarding confidentiality when caring for a minor patient. This sort of scenario is not uncommon in an office practice.

                            AAFP Core Educational Guidelines

                            Special Medical Reports

                            Clinical Briefs

                              Clinical Briefs

                              Verna L. Rose

                              The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that most women still do not know that an adequate intake of folic acid can prevent some serious birth defects. Even fewer women know that folic acid must be taken before and during the first few weeks of pregnancy,...

                              Resident and Student Voice

                              Physician's Bookshelf

                                Book Reviews

                                JAN FLATTUM-RIEMERS, GARY GRAY, MARY JEWELL

                                Also Received

                                Letters to the Editor

                                Tips from Other Journals

                                Information from Your Family Doctor

                                • PtEd

                                Preventing and Treating Traveler's Diarrhea

                                Traveler's diarrhea is a kind of diarrhea you might get when you're traveling in less developed countries. Many countries in Africa, Asia and Central and South America are risky places for travelers' diarrhea. It's usually caused by eating food or drinking water that is...

                                • PtEd

                                Having a Vasectomy

                                A vasectomy is a procedure that makes a man sterile (this means he has no sperm in his semen and can't make a woman pregnant). The doctor cuts and removes part of the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the semen. (This tube is called the “vas deferens.”)

                                • PtEd

                                Infant Hip Problems

                                A few babies have hip problems that can lead to dislocation of the hip bones. This means that the long bone in the upper leg comes out of the hip socket. If your baby has this problem, it's important to find out early so it can be fixed (see Picture 1).

                                • PtEd

                                Depression in Women

                                About 20% of women have depression at least once. If you're depressed, you may have some of these symptoms:

                                Corrections



                                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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