Aust Fam Physician
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There is a marked increase in the prevalence of food allergies. Food allergy can cause fatal anaphylaxis and the victims are most often adolescents and young adults. ⋯ The key management of food allergy is allergen avoidance informed by accurate allergy diagnosis. Inadvertent exposure to food triggers unfortunately does occur and patients need to be confident in prompt self management. Adrenaline must be given for all potentially life threatening food allergy reactions. Anaphylaxis action plans and optimal asthma control are also critical management objectives.
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Aboriginal people have a higher burden of cardiovascular risk factors and heart disease and poorer outcomes after heart attacks when compared with other Australians. Indigenous status is also a risk factor for delayed response to heart attack symptoms. ⋯ The aim of this article is to reflect on the process of making the DVD as a community driven health promotion activity and to explore questions raised and insights gained about heart health education for Aboriginal people in the context of the existing literature. The importance of education about heart attack symptom recognition and prompt hospital presentation, as well as risk factor management, by general practitioners and other health practitioners working with Aboriginal people, is highlighted.
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Urinary incontinence is common in the community and may impact significantly on quality of life; yet only one-third of sufferers seek medical attention. There are many treatment options for patients suffering with urinary incontinence. ⋯ Most urinary incontinence can be evaluated and treated in the primary care setting after careful history and simple clinical assessment. Initial treatment, for both urge urinary incontinence and stress urinary incontinence, is lifestyle modification and pelvic floor muscle treatment. Urinary urgency responds to bladder training and pharmacotherapy with anticholinergic medication. Pharmacotherapy has a limited place in stress incontinence. If there is complex symptomatology or primary management fails, then referral to a specialist is suggested.
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Evidence and quality standards support the use of professional interpreters and discourage the use of family interpreters in medical consultations. The Northern Division of General Practice documented the use of professional and family interpreters in local general practices, together with barriers and possible facilitators in the use of professional interpreters. ⋯ Surveys of practices and GPs found the use of professional interpreters is uncommon. Over two-thirds of practices reported never using the free Doctors Priority Line phone interpreting service. Family members were frequently used as interpreters, with most GPs preferring to use family rather than professional interpreters. Over a third of practices were unaware of the Doctors Priority Line. Findings suggested that relevant standards are commonly not understood or implemented.
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In 2004-2005, 15% of Australians reported having arthritis.1 Osteoarthritis (OA) is by far the most common form, and is a leading cause of pain and disability among people over 65 years of age.