The Journal of family practice
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There is a need for a measure of the overall seriousness of a given family practice workload. In the past, such measurements have been attempted in various ways. ⋯ Some examples of the uses of the system are shown. Several difficulties were encountered; these are not insuperable, and the method deserves to be developed further.
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Urticaria is a problem often as vexing to the physician as to the patient. The approach to the patient with hives first demands a search for the etiology, whether endogenous and triggered by emotions or occult systemic disease, exogenous and triggered by allergy to inhaled or ingested antigens, or physical and due to abnormal sensitivity to heat, cold, light, or pressure. ⋯ Elimination diets are of diagnostic as well as therapeutic value: pencillin-free, yeast-free, and salicylate-free diets are particularly useful. Therapeutic trials of tetracycline, nystatin and griseofulvin may be helpful, while corticosteroids and specific desensitization are rarely of value.
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Insults from corneal foreigh bodies range from trivial windblown debris through destructive chemicals, penetrating wounds, and severe secondary infection. History and preliminary examination should begin concurrently, particularly in the case of chemically active compounds. Needed auxiliaries are topical anesthetics, oblique light, magnification, sterile sodium fluorescein for diagnostic staining of surface breaks, removal instruments, and topical antibiotics to reduce the potential of secondary infection. ⋯ Corneal thickness varies from slightly above 1 mm in the periphery to less than 0.5 mm centrally. Therefore, it is essential to have clear visualization of the foreign body in relation to corneal depth. Dislodgment into the anterior chamber or incidental perforation of the cornea generally require hospitalization, intensive antibiotics, and steroid therapy.
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Dental emergencies are common in everyday practice, and the family physician may frequently be called upon to evaluate and, at times, to provide initial care for such problems. This article acquaints the family physician with diagnosis and treatment of the most common dental emergencies: disorders secondary to trauma, including soft tissue laceration, fracture or displacement of teeth, and bone fractures; and severe pain related to acute alveolar infection.
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Exudate, adenopathy, and fever were used to predict clinically whether pharyngitis was streptococcal, nonstreptococcal, or questionable in 466 adults and 234 children. Clinical accuracy was: nonstreptococcal - adults 94.6 percent, children 86.9 percent; streptococcal - adults 44.2 percent, children 53.5 percent. Significance of results was determined by calculating the cost of routine cultures compared to risk of rheumatic fever. ⋯ The fatality risk after penicillin injection compared to the increased risk of rheumatic fever after oral penicillin is: adults 7.5 percent (clinical diagnosis), 3.3 percent (laboratory diagnosis); children 1.8 percent and 0.8 percent respectively. It is recommended that throat culture be obtained for all questionable patients and clinically nonstreptococcal children. Penicillin should be administered orally in the majority of adults.