• Articles

    Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Pathogenesis and Management

    ROBERT G. FRYKBERG

    Foot ulcers are significant and common complications of diabetes mellitus and can lead to hospitalization and lower-extremity amputation. Prompt and aggressive treatment of diabetic foot ulcers can often prevent exacerbation of the problem and the potential need for amputation.

    Autism: A Medical Primer

    CHRISTOPHER D. PRATER, ROBERT G. ZYLSTRA

    Primary care physicians can accurately identify the condition, initiate treatment, and facilitate appropriate referrals for patients with the pervasive developmental disorder of autism.

    Common Issues in the Care of Sick Neonates

    MUHAMMAD JAWAD HASHIM, RONNIE GUILLET

    Sick or premature neonates may be managed by family physicians in special care nurseries, where they can be closely monitored and clinically evaluated.

    Diagnosing Pericarditis

    KRISHAN K. GOYLE, ANNE D. WALLING

    Pericarditis is most often caused by viral infection and generally resolves in a few weeks with no clinical sequelae. The condition must be distinguished from acute myocardial infarction, because the administration of thrombolytic medications can be fatal.

    The Proactive Sexual Health History

    MARGARET R.H. NUSBAUM, CAROL D. HAMILTON

    Sexual health care is important to the general health of patients and should be proactively addressed by primary care physicians.

    Evaluation and Management of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus

    SAAD SHAIKH, CHRISTOPHER N. TA

    Early detection and treatment of herpes zoster ophthalmicus can prevent potentially severe ocular complications and result in good visual outcomes.

    FPs, Internet Play Crucial Roles in Diagnosis of Complex Illnesses

    DANIEL L. WOLK

    To the editor: An 18-year-old woman presented to my office with severe left buttock pain radiating down her posterior thigh, and mild left lower quadrant pain. She had no nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, fever, or sweats. Her medical, family, and social history and review...

    Inside AFP

    Inside the Editorial Production Office

    Janis Wright

    Next month marks the fifth anniversary of my switch in roles to managing editor of AFP. I still think of this as a new role because the time has passed so quickly and I'm continually taking on different challenges. The best part about working for AFP is that the sky is the...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Matthew Neff

    AAFP Web Site Provides AMA Health Plan Complaint Form | HHS Provides Greater Access to Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccinations | Minnesota Physician Chosen AAFP Family Physician of the Year | AHRQ Awards $300,000 Grant to AAFP Family Practice Research Network | AAFP's Walter H....

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Sarah Evans, Heather McNeill

    Smile, and take a deep breath. Study results presented at the 98th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society and published in Internal Medicine News show that persons with an optimistic outlook on life have better lung function than pessimists. The study...

    Editorials

    Autism

    LUCILLE MARCHAND

    As a mother of a moderately affected autistic child and family physician to a number of autistic children, I have found that autistic persons are as varied as fingerprints, and each child needs an individualized, multidisciplinary approach. Autism is a wide-spectrum,...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Once in a while, we all need a hug. Margaret, a 73-year-old woman, had developed the sudden onset of difficulty speaking. Everything she attempted to say came out garbled and fragmented. A noncontrast computed tomographic scan of the head was negative, but the following day a...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Should We Prescribe Antibiotics for Acute Conjunctivitis?

    SEAN P. DAVID

    This review indicates that even in high-risk patients with bacterial conjunctivitis, there is only a small benefit of treatment with antibiotics. Furthermore, most cases (64 percent) resolve spontaneously, and complications are rare. Therefore, it is reasonable to avoid...

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    Recurrent Tonsillitis

    WILLIAM S. MCKERROW

    Is tonsillectomy effective in severe tonsillitis in children and adults?

    Putting Prevention Into Practice

    Aspirin for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events

    REBECCA FERRINI, BARBARA CLARK

    Case study: ST is a 55-year-old man who you see regularly for hypertension and depression. He is overweight and sedentary, and his elder sister recently had a heart attack. He asks you whether he should take a daily aspirin, “just in case.”

    Photo Quiz

    All Is Not Well…

    CHARLES CARTER, JAMEE H. LUCAS

    A 63-year-old man complained of pain in his substernal and epigastric region for the past three weeks. The pain occurred after walking a great distance or after he ate, and it resolved with rest. He experienced no radiation of the pain, and no shortness of breath, nausea, or...

    Practice Guidelines

    CDC Releases 2002 Guidelines for Treating STDs: Part I. Diseases Characterized by Vaginal Discharge and PID

    Genevieve W. Ressel

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published the 2002 guidelines for treating sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Information on diseases characterized by vaginal discharge, as well as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is included.

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Carrie Morantz, Brian Torrey

    Updated Post-Event Smallpox Response Plan and Guidelines | Obstetric Management of Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries | AAP Report on Maltreatment of Children | NCI Call for Lung Cancer Study Participants | IOM Report on Diet and Chronic Disease Prevention | NIDA Drug Abuse...

    Letters to the Editor

    Punch Biopsies Are Not the Way to Diagnose Melanoma

    Tips from Other Journals

    Hepatitis B Envelope Antigen and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

    BILL ZEPF

    Are COX-2 Inhibitors Safe in Aspirin-Sensitive Asthma?

    KARL E. MILLER

    Is Vasectomy Associated with Prostate Cancer?

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Frequent Amblyopia Screening Improves Children's Vision

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Atypical Manifestations of Temporal Arteritis

    GRACE BROOKE HUFFMAN

    Methods of Perineal Repair Following Vaginal Birth

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Anti-leukotrienes in Asthma Therapy: An Analysis

    ANNE D. WALLING

    DEET vs. Other Mosquito Repellents: A Comparison

    BILL ZEPF

    Risk-Based vs. Universal Prenatal Screening for GBS

    BILL ZEPF

    Care Protocols Reduce Appendectomy Complications

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Birth Control Pills and the Risk of Breast Cancer

    BILL ZEPF

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Conjunctivitis

    Conjunctivitis (say: “con-junk-tiv-eye-tis”) is an inflammation in a part of your eye. The conjunctiva is a thin lining that covers the whites of the eyes and the insides of the eyelids. This lining helps protect your eyes. The conjunctiva can be irritated by chemicals,...

    What You Should Know About Autism

    Autism is a brain disorder that causes poor development of language and social skills. People with autism may also have mental retardation, seizures, or mental disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety). About one third will be able to achieve some degree of independent living...

    What You Should Know About HZO

    Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), commonly known as shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus. It involves the skin around the eye and sometimes the eye itself. It is not the same virus that causes herpes simplex.

    Smoking: Do I Want to Quit?

    Check the box below that best describes how you feel about giving up smoking:

    Smoking: Break the Habit

    It seems hard to stop smoking because smoking causes changes in your body and in the way you act. The changes in your body are caused by an addiction to nicotine. The changes in the way you act have developed over time as you have bought cigarettes, lit them, and smoked them....

    Heart Disease and Smoking: Why You Need to Stop Smoking

    Cigarettes are the leading cause of preventable death in this country. Tobacco is toxic to your body. The nicotine in tobacco makes your body release adrenaline. Adrenaline causes your blood vessels to constrict and your heart to beat faster, which raises your blood pressure....



    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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