Evaluation of Lymphadenopathy Of the nearly 600 lymph nodes throughout the body, only a few are normally palpable, including small nodes in the submandibular, axillary, and inguinal regions. Nevertheless, lymphadenopathy…
Evaluation of Fever Since antiquity, fever has been recognized as a cardinal manifestation of disease. Indeed, people identify fever as a sign of illness more readily than they recognize the…
Evaluation of Overweight and Obesity W. Scott Butsch Overweight and obesity have become major health concerns in modern postindustrial societies, affecting an estimated 69% of Americans older than the age…
Evaluation of Weight Loss Involuntary weight loss, which can be defined as an unexplained sustained weight loss of 5% or more over a 6- to 12-month period, is a sensitive,…
Evaluation of Chronic Fatigue Chronic fatigue is one of the most common complaints in primary care practice, with a reported frequency in excess of 20%. It can also be one…
Screening for HIV Infection Stephen L. Boswell In the United States, it is estimated that more than 1.1 million people are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and that approximately…
Immunization Regina C. Larocque Edward T. Ryan Immunization represents the most cost-effective means of preventing infectious disease. There are five major categories: (a) routine vaccinations of childhood and adolescence, (b)…
Choosing Among Treatment Options Although discerning diagnosis and accurate prognosis are essential to effective patient care, the process of choosing among treatment options can have the greatest effect on the…
Estimating and Communicating Risk and Prognosis Diagnosis is a process of classification. A constellation of symptoms, signs, and test results is given a label, and the patient who presents with…
Health Maintenance and the Role of Screening Public interest in health maintenance or, more positively, health enhancement varies over time and in different segments of the population. Some Americans have…
