• Articles

    Ear Pain: Diagnosing Common and Uncommon Causes

    John Scott Earwood, Tyler Sherrod Rogers, Nicholas Alan Rathjen

    Diagnosing ear pain requires distinguishing between primary and secondary otalgia. Pain originating within the ear (i.e., primary otalgia) is usually diagnosed with the history and physical examination. Common causes of primary otalgia include otitis externa or media,...

    Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Outpatient Insulin Management

    Amanda Howard-Thompson, Muneeza Khan, Morgan Jones, Christa M. George

    In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin may be used to augment therapy with oral glycemic medications or as insulin replacement therapy. Insulin regimens should be adjusted every three or four days until self-monitoring of blood glucose targets are reached. Goals...

    Pityriasis Rosea: Diagnosis and Treatment

    Jose M. Villalon-Gomez

    Pityriasis rosea is a common self-limiting rash that usually starts with a herald patch on the trunk and progresses along the Langer lines to a generalized rash over the trunk and limbs. The diagnosis is based on clinical and physical examination findings. Patients can...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News: AFP Edition

    AAFP Renews Fight for Coverage of Preventive Health Services for Women | New Online Tool Lets Physicians View Status of CMS Quality Measures | Survey: Family Physicians Continue Move to New Payment Models | Free Physician Well-Being CME Videos

    Editorials

    Immediate Postpartum LARC: An Underused Contraceptive Option

    Moira K. Ray, Valerie King

    Providing immediate postpartum LARC to women who want it is an evidence-based, patient-centered, and safe practice.

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Effectiveness of Moisturizers in the Treatment of Patients with Eczema

    Arianna Becker, Matthew Rensberry

    Moisturizers decrease the rate of eczema flare-ups by 3.7 times vs. no treatment (number needed to treat [NNT] = 4), as well as the amount of topical corticosteroids used per eczema flare-up (9.3 g less). Adverse effects are minimal.

    Dietary Interventions for Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Childhood

    Juan Qiu

    Probiotics relieve pain in children with recurrent abdominal pain in the short term (number needed to treat [NNT] = 8). There is no convincing evidence that fiber supplements improve pain in children with recurrent abdominal pain.

    Point-of-Care Guides

    Young Febrile Infants: Step-by-Step Evaluation

    Joshua Steinberg

    A fever without an obvious source in an infant younger than three months is highly concerning. Although some infants have a potentially life-threatening invasive bacterial infection, such as meningitis, bacteremia, or sepsis, most have less serious conditions, such as a viral...

    Photo Quiz

    Burning on the Tip of the Tongue

    Thomas M. Skinner, Casey V. Glew

    A woman presented with lesions on her tongue, as well as bare patches with raised erythematous borders.

    Curbside Consultation

    Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting

    Ranit Mishori, Nicole Warren, Rebecca Reingold

    FGM/C involves partial or total removal of the external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. It is considered a human rights violation. It has no known health benefits, but many reported harmful consequences.

    POEMs

    Delayed Antibiotic Prescription for New-Onset Cough Associated with Decreased Reconsultation

    Allen F. Shaughnessy

    Delayed antibiotic treatment (that is, giving a prescription with a suggestion to fill it only if symptoms are still present after three days) was associated with decreased revisits by adults with new-onset cough deemed to be infective.

    Long-term Use of Bisphosphonates Increases the Risk of Fractures in Older Women

    Henry C. Barry

    In this cohort study, older women at a high risk of fractures who used oral bisphosphonates for 10 to 13 years had a higher risk of fractures than women who used bisphosphonates for only two years.

    Intensive Blood Pressure Control in Older Patients Can Decrease Renal Function

    Allen F. Shaughnessy

    In this post-hoc analysis of the previously published SPRINT trial, lowering the systolic blood pressure of patients who are at increased risk of cardiovascular events (average age = 66 years) will decrease their risk of cardiovascular disease but increase their likelihood of...

    Oral Steroids Not Helpful for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Nonasthmatic Adults

    David Slawson

    This study found no clinically significant benefit of steroids for the treatment of acute LRTI in adults without asthma, including those presenting with wheezing or shortness of breath.

    Practice Guidelines

    Tuberculosis: Guidelines for Diagnosis from the ATS, IDSA, and CDC

    Lisa Hauk

    Persons with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection may have no clinical evidence of disease and present asymptomatically, known as latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) or symptomatically, known as tuberculosis (TB). The American Thoracic Society (ATS), Infectious Diseases...

    Medicine by the Numbers

    Stents for Stable Coronary Artery Disease

    Andrew Apps, Aseem Malhotra

    Most published trials fail to show a benefit from coronary stenting in patients with stable obstructive coronary artery disease. However, stent technology has evolved significantly in recent years, and it is possible that newer-generation drug-eluting stents may offer...

    Letters to the Editor

    Discuss Oral Health with All Women of Child-Bearing Age

    Medications to Treat Obesity Lack Patient-Oriented Evidence

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Pityriasis Rosea

    Pityriasis rosea (pit-ih-RYE-uh-sis ROW-zee-uh) is a scaly, reddish-pink skin rash that's common in children and young adults. If you get it, you might feel like you have a cold at first. Then a scaly red spot might appear on your back or stomach. Smaller spots will develop...



    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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