March 2024

Peer Reviewed Feature Articles
Paediatrics

IgE-mediated food allergies in infants and children: an update on prevention and management

Eric Lee, Preeti Joshi

Food allergies among infants and children are common and on the rise in Australia. For children at risk of anaphylaxis, adrenaline autoinjectors are prescribed and anaphylaxis action plans are provided, along with routine patient education. Avoiding allergens, assessing and managing the anaphylaxis risk and providing care that is shared between GPs and specialists are the mainstays of treatment, and promising treatments are on the horizon.

CPD
Complete 1.5 CPD hours
Rheumatology

Psoriatic arthritis: how early recognition helps management

Grace G. Bak, Daniel J. Sumpton

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease with diverse musculoskeletal and nonmusculoskeletal manifestations. GPs have a central role in early recognition and monitoring and optimising management, as part of a multidisciplinary team, of the disease and associated comorbidities.

CPD
Complete 1.5 CPD hours
Renal medicine

Chronic kidney disease: doing simple things well for those most at risk

Anoushka Krishnan, Jaquelyne T. Hughes (Wagadagam), Karen M. Dwyer, Mark Thomas

With the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) increasing globally, management requires a holistic approach that includes nonpharmacological and phamacological strategies. Providing culturally responsible care to vulnerable at-risk populations and aggressive pharmacological management of CKD and its associated risk factors can help optimise patient outcomes.

Free Access
Free access
Peer Reviewed Regular Series
Focus on pregnancy

Micronutrient supplementation – supporting a healthy pregnancy and baby

Jenna L Hollis, Tessa Delaney, Phoebe Holdenson Kimura, Bianca Cannon, Michelle Guppy, Susan De Jersey, Elizabeth J Elliott, Melanie Kingsland

Use of some micronutrient supplements before conception, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding influences the health of pregnant women and their children, and GPs play an important role in providing guidance on their appropriate use.

Cardiovascular medicine clinic

Lipid-lowering therapy for older people: update on prescribing

Ian R. Hamilton-Craig, Christian R Hamilton-Craig

Strategies to maximise compliance and minimise adverse effects of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) are particularly important in older people. They can include use of combination LLT.

Women's health

The menopause transition: managing symptoms and improving quality of life

Tara Krishnan, Martha Hickey

The menopause transition, the period leading up to the final menses, can present with significant symptoms that require shared care and support between specialists and GPs. Special consideration should be given to cardiovascular and bone health, as well as caution in terms of long-term hormone therapy use.

Physician-authored summaries and commentary on the most important medical research, provided by the NEJM Group, a division of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

© Massachusetts Medical Society