• Articles

    Common Benign Skin Tumors

    MARK C. LUBA, SCOTT A. BANGS, ANDREW M. MOHLER, DANIEL L. STULBERG

    Most benign skin tumors, such as sebaceous hyperplasia, seborrheic keratoses, dermatofibromas, skin tags, keratoacanthomas, pyogenic granulomas, and epidermoid cysts, can be diagnosed and treated in the family physician's office.

    Diagnostic and Therapeutic Injection of the Wrist and Hand Region

    ALFRED F. TALLIA, DENNIS A. CARDONE

    The use of diagnostic and therapeutic injection for common wrist and hand pathologies is reviewed and pictorially demonstrated.

    Antiviral Drugs in the Immunocompetent Host: Part I. Treatment of Hepatitis, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes Infections

    RICHARD COLGAN, ROBERT MICHOCKI, LISA GREISMAN, TRACY A. WOLFF MOORE

    Interferon alfa or lamivudine is the preferred therapy for hepatitis B infection. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin are routinely used for treating hepatitis C infection. Ganciclovir and foscarnet may be useful for treating severe cytomegalovirus infection. Several oral and...

    Antiviral Drugs in the Immunocompetent Host: Part II. Treatment of Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections

    RICHARD COLGAN, ROBERT MICHOCKI, LISA GREISMAN, TRACY A. WOLFF MOORE

    Family physicians now have four drugs to choose from for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza infections. Select groups of patients with respiratory syncytial virus may benefit from antiviral medications.

    Recognition and Management of Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm

    TARU SINHA, ALAN K. DAVID

    Exercise-induced bronchospasm is defined as the presence of symptoms, such as the obstruction of transient airflow, usually occurring five to 15 minutes after the onset of physical exertion. Appropriate management allows most patients to continue to exercise and participate...

    Inside AFP

    How to Help AFP Serve Your Needs

    Janis Wright

    In my last column, I emphasized that AFP depends on feedback from readers to help determine the editorial direction of the journal. Each year we conduct several written surveys and invite readers to participate in focus groups or interviews. We read and share all of your e...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Matthew Neff

    House Bill May Reclaim Title VII Family Practice Training Funds | Health Care Spending in the United States Increased by 8.7 Percent in 2001 | Two Surveys Demonstrate Negative Economic Impact of Medicaid Reductions | AHRQ Releases Fact Book on Women's Health Care in U.S....

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Sarah Evans, Heather Mcneill

    Protecting yourself from skin cancer may one day be as easy as getting dressed in the morning. The Skin Cancer Foundation has awarded its Seal of Recommendation to Coolibar, LLC, an Australian line of garments that block the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. According to...

    Graham Center Policy One-Pager

    Types of Medical Errors Commonly Reported by Family Physicians

    In a group of studies about medical errors in family medicine, the five error types most often observed and reported by U.S. family physicians were: (1) errors in prescribing medications; (2) errors in getting the right laboratory test done for the right patient at the right...

    Editorials

    Chronic Rhinitis: Allergic or Nonallergic?

    Joseph Lau, Aidan Long

    The prevalence of atopic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, is increasing rapidly in westernized societies, with some studies suggesting an increase in prevalence of 25 percent or more over the course of one or two generations. This has resulted in a large increase in the...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    “Sometimes I feel more like a detective than a family physician,” JB, a third-year resident, commented to the faculty. JB was reviewing the blood glucose level of a patient who had been diagnosed with diabetes several years earlier. This 53-year-old woman checked her glucose...

    U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

    Screening for Prostate Cancer: Recommendations and Rationale

    U.S. PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE

    Practice Guidelines

    Diagnosis and Management of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis

    Barrett M. Schroeder

    The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recently updated a 1997 guideline for the diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis. The IDSA defined group A streptococcal pharyngitis as an acute infection of the oropharynx or nasopharynx that is caused...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    CARRIE MORANTZ, BRIAN TORREY

    ACOG Bulletin on Selective Estrogen-Receptor Modulators | International Family Medicine Poster Presentation | Guidelines for Implantation of Cardiac Pacemakers | Call for Papers of Family Practice Research Presentations | Management of Patients with Unstable Angina | ACOG...

    Letters to the Editor

    Letters to the Editor

    Noninvasive Treatments for Umbilical Granulomas

    Accurate Information on Drug Effects on Pregnancy Is Crucial

    KATHLEEN UHL, DIANNE L. KENNEDY, null R.PH., M.P.H., SANDRA L. KWEDER

    Letters to the Editor

    Importance of Preconception Counseling

    Tips from Other Journals

    Fibrinolytic Therapy and Coronary Revascularization

    KARL E. MILLER

    Speculum Lubrication Does Not Contaminate Pap Smears

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Is IV Albuterol Effective for Acute Asthma Management?

    KARL E. MILLER

    Endovascular Coiling Has Better Outcomes than Surgery

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Is There a Link Between MMR Vaccine and Autism?

    BILL ZEPF

    Evaluating Lower Back Pain with the Aid of Imaging

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Walking and Reduction of Hip Fracture Risk in Older Women

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Plant Sterol-Ester Margarine Plus Statin Reduces LDL

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Plant Sterol-Ester Margarine Plus Statin Reduces LDL

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Short-Course Treatment for TB May Increase Liver Injury

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Use of Oral Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Review of Potential Treatments for Hot Flushes

    SUMI M. SEXTON

    Bats May Cause Most Rabies Cases Encountered Today

    BILL ZEPF

    What Is the Best Management of Fetal Macrosomia?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Review and Update of Dysautonomias

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Should Low-Dose Tricyclic Antidepressants Be Reconsidered?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Why Are My Patients Dizzy? Review of Diagnosis

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Video Capsule Endoscopy vs. Small Bowel Radiography

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Central Venous Catheter Colonization in Children

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Creatine Kinase Levels and Statin-Induced Myopathy

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Dexamethasone for Treatment of Adult Meningitis

    BILL ZEPF

    Using Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Incontinence

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Testing and Therapy for Legionella Pneumonia

    BILL ZEPF

    Normotension in the Elderly after Medication Withdrawal

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Recurrent Fevers in Children: Differential Diagnosis

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Factors Affecting Adherence to HIV Medication Regimens

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Cognitive Training Improves Test Results in the Elderly

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Obesity Surgery May Cure Diabetes in Nonobese Patients

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    When to Remove Chest Tubes: Use of Volume Threshold

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    How Effective Is Ear Syringing in Improving Hearing?

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Laboratory Testing in Healthy Women with Osteoporosis

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Antipsychotics Pose Risk of Fatal Cardiac Effects

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Active Role in Diabetes Care Improves Patient Satisfaction

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Optimal Anticoagulation: Determining the Safest INR

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    What You Should Know About Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm

    Exercise-induced bronchospasm (also called EIB) happens if the airways in your lungs shrink (get smaller) while you are exercising. If you have EIB, it can be hard for you to exercise for more than 30 minutes. You may have wheezing, difficulty breathing, or chest pain. ...

    Flu and Colds

    Colds and the flu (also called influenza) have many of the same symptoms. A cold is generally mild, while the flu tends to be more severe.

    Influenza Vaccine

    Influenza (also called the flu) is a viral infection in the nose, throat, and lungs. About 10 to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year. Some people get very sick. Each year, about 130,000 people go to a hospital with the flu, and 20,000 people die because of the flu...

    Antibiotics: When They Can and Can't Help

    Antibiotics are strong medicines that can stop some infections and save lives. But antibiotics can cause more harm than good if they are not used the right way. You can protect yourself and your family by knowing when you should use antibiotics and when you shouldn't.

    Acute Bronchitis

    Acute bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tree. The bronchial (say: “brawn-kee-ull”) tree is made up of the tubes that carry air into your lungs. When these tubes get infected, they swell up, and mucus (thick fluid) forms. This makes it hard for you to breathe. You...

    Sore Throat

    Pharyngitis (say: “fare-en-jy-tis”)—which is what your doctor calls a sore throat—can be caused by many things. Sometimes, when mucus from your sinuses drains into your throat, the drainage can make your throat feel sore. Viruses (such as those that cause the common cold) and...



    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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