{"title":"Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia: Common Questions and Answers.","authors":"Keli Jones, Michelle Keating, Maggie Hansell","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Herpes zoster (shingles) is the clinical manifestation of the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus from the dorsal root and cranial nerve ganglia. Approximately one-third of the population will develop herpes zoster, which most commonly results in a self-limited, painful, vesicular, dermatomal rash that resolves within 2 to 4 weeks. Complications of herpes zoster can result in chronic debility. Postherpetic neuralgia, a persistent dermatomal pain syndrome lasting longer than 90 days after symptom onset, is the most common complication, occurring in 10% to 18% of people who have herpes zoster. Older adults and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk of developing herpes zoster and its associated complications. Treatment for herpes zoster involves antiviral medications (eg, acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir) with or without adjunctive pain management. First-line treatment of postherpetic neuralgia includes gabapentinoids, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and tricyclic antidepressants. Topical drugs are an adjunctive treatment. Herpes zoster and its complications are largely preventable with vaccination (recombinant zoster vaccine), which is covered by Medicare and commercial insurances. Two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine are recommended for adults 50 years and older and those 19 years and older with immunocompromise. Obstacles to receiving vaccination include low awareness, administration errors, necessity of receiving multiple doses, and vaccine adverse effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"164-172"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections: Updated Guidelines From the IDSA.","authors":"Giulia Gargano, Michelle Nelson","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"204-206"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Practice Alert: Proposed Revision of the Federal Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule Bypasses Established Processes.","authors":"Doug Campos-Outcalt","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"118-120"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Consuming Caffeinated Coffee After Cardioversion Is Associated With a Lower Risk of Recurrent AF Compared With No Caffeine.","authors":"David Slawson","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"197-198"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Estrogen Replacement Therapy Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Risk Except in People 70 Years or Older.","authors":"Allen F Shaughnessy","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"197"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Telemedicine Services for Medical Abortion.","authors":"Marco Cunicelli, Haneen Hussein","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"128-129"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"GLP-1 Receptor Agonists for Stroke Prevention in Type 2 Diabetes or Obesity.","authors":"Drew Keister, Mahvesh Shabbir, Haidar Alwaeli","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"187-188"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microhematuria: Updated Guidelines From the American Urological Association.","authors":"Sarah Azari, Amirali Salmasi","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"200-204"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Healthy Dietary Advice in Clinical Practice: Recommendations for Family Physicians.","authors":"Lenard I Lesser, Mary N R Lesser, Sean C Lucan","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Family physicians can provide helpful dietary advice that is efficient and uncomplicated. Key themes include emphasizing whole foods that are primarily made from plants, limiting ultra-processed products, and flexibility to accommodate taste preferences and familiar foods. Healthy eating can be achieved across a range of dietary patterns, cultural traditions, and nutrient distributions. The best diet for any given patient will be one they can maintain. However, the strongest evidence for producing sustained dietary change comes from comprehensive moderate-contact programs, which are generally beyond what primary care physicians can provide. When lack of time, training, and comfort are obstacles to having comprehensive in-clinic conversations about diet, family physicians can refer patients to specialists trained in nutrition and behavior change. For patents with complex needs, collaboration with dietitians can optimize clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"132-138"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Topical Fluoride as a Cause of Dental Fluorosis in Children.","authors":"Lisa Thompson, Hugh Silk","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":7713,"journal":{"name":"American family physician","volume":"114 2","pages":"117-118"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149056936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}