Clinical Inquiries
Clinical Inquiries
What is the most effective way to treat recurrent canker sores?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: AMLEXANOX appears to be most effective overall. Amlexanox 5% paste reduces ulcer size, pain duration, and healing time (...
Clinical Inquiries
Chronic urticaria: What diagnostic evaluation is best?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A DETAILED HISTORY AND 6-WEEK TRIAL of an H1 antihistamine are the best diagnostic evaluations for chronic urticaria. More...
Clinical Inquiries
Postcholecystectomy diarrhea: What relieves it?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: A TRIAL OF A BILE ACID BINDER such as cholestyramine or colestipol may benefit patients with postcholecystectomy diarrhea (...
Clinical Inquiries
Does brief physician counseling promote weight loss?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: IN SOME CASES, it may. While physician counseling alone isn’t more effective for weight loss than usual care (strength of...
Clinical Inquiries
What’s the best way to relieve mastitis in breastfeeding mothers?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: FREQUENT BREAST EMPTYING helps both infectious and noninfectious mastitis (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, 1...
Clinical Inquiries
What risk factors contribute to C difficile diarrhea?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: CERTAIN ANTIBIOTICS AND USING 3 OR MORE ANTIBIOTICS AT ONE TIME are associated with Clostridium difficile-associated...
Clinical Inquiries
When is discectomy indicated for lumbar disc disease?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: EMERGENT DISCECTOMY is indicated in the presence of cauda equina and severe, progressive neuromotor deficits (strength of...
Clinical Inquiries
Does pneumococcal conjugate vaccine prevent otitis media?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: YES, if the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) series is given before 12 months of age. Vaccination before 12 months is...
Clinical Inquiries
Is it safe to vaccinate children against varicella while they’re in close contact with a pregnant woman?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: YES. All healthy children without evidence of immunity to varicella who are living in a household with a susceptible...
Clinical Inquiries
Which smoking cessation interventions work best?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (NRT), bupropion, nortriptyline, clonidine, and varenicline are all effective, although...
Clinical Inquiries
How should we use the coronary artery calcium score to predict cardiovascular risk?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: THE CORONARY ARTERY CALCIUM (CAC) SCORE—an independent predictor of cardiovascular events (strength of recommendation [SOR...