Plant-based diets: are they healthy for a child?

With the increasing popularity of plant-based diets, there is...

Diagnosing and managing lactose intolerance

Primary lactase deficiency, the main cause of lactose intolerance,...

Surveillance for people with polyps or inflammatory bowel disease

Guidance for following up people who have had polyps identified...

Follow-up and surveillance for people after treatment for bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in New Zealand,...

Inflammatory bowel disease – a focus on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the principal forms...

Consider blue-green algal blooms this summer: Identifying and managing suspected cyanotoxin poisoning in primary care

Cyanobacteria, also referred to as blue-green algae, are micro-organisms...

Referral of patients with features suggestive of bowel cancer: Ministry of Health guidance

Bowel cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death...

Managing constipation in older people

Constipation is common in older people due to factors such as...

Stopping proton pump inhibitors in older people

Over one-third of people aged 65 years and older in New Zealand...

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: an overview for primary care

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer makes up around 1% of stomach...

The Year in Review - What did we learn in 2014?

In 2014 we published over 60 medical education articles in Best...

Proton pump inhibitors: When is enough, enough?

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the most widely used...

Managing gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in adults: an update

Heartburn, the cardinal symptom of gastro-oesophageal reflux...

Biliary colic and complications from gallstones

Gallstones are common among the general population, but because...

Rural infections series: Rural round up

In the final instalment of the rural series we present a round-up...

The changing face of Helicobacter pylori testing

There is ongoing debate in the literature about which is the...

Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: Not just a gut feeling

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal...

Rural infections series: Investigating and managing people with diarrhoea

Campylobacter, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium and Giardia cause...

The use of omeprazole in infants is still high

Omeprazole is not approved for use in infants (children aged...

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Making safer treatment choices

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are successfully...

A quick guide to managing anal fissures

Anal fissures are small tears in the epithelium of the anus...

Hypomagnesaemia with proton pump inhibitors

IN DECEMBER, 2012 MEDSAFE published a warning on the risk of...

Laboratory investigation of infectious diarrhoea

This report discussus how testing behaviour in New Zealand has...

Appropriate use of the faecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer

What is a faecal occult blood test? When should a faecal occult...

Surveillance of people at increased risk of colorectal cancer

The incidence of colorectal cancer in New Zealand is high by...

Irritable infants reflux and GORD

In New Zealand, empiric treatment with omeprazole for infant...

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting are very common symptoms of early pregnancy...

Dietary advice for people with coeliac disease

People with a confirmed diagnosis of coeliac disease must adhere...

Prescription Kitchen videos

Links to video files of the TV show broadcast on Sky channel...

Managing dyspepsia and heartburn in general practice - an update

Dyspepsia is not a diagnosis but rather a description of symptoms...

Bowel cancer screening in New Zealand

Progress to date on a national screening programme for bowel...

Testing for enteric pathogens: Follow up report

This web version is a sample only, all data below the national...

Investigating the Gut: Pernicious anaemia

There are a number of causes of low vitamin B12 levels with...

Investigating the Gut: Coeliac disease

Tissue transglutaminase antibodies are the most useful preliminary...

Investigating the Gut: Helicobacter pylori

The choice of test for initial testing for H. pylori, is determined...

Investigating the Gut: Inflammatory bowel disease - the role of faecal calprotectin

Clinical assessment of intestinal inflammation can be problematic....

Investigating the Gut: Lactose intolerance

The role of laboratory tests in diagnosing lactose intolerance...

Investigating the Gut: Steatorrhoea

In the past, the faecal fat test was sometimes used to aid the...

Assessment and management of infectious gastroenteritis

Every year around 200,000 New Zealanders acquire a food associated...

TNF inhibitors - an update

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors are used in the treatment...

Practice tips: PPIs and Paraffin

All about PPIs, Fire hazard with paraffin

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory...

Dietary advice for people with coeliac disease

When people are newly diagnosed with coeliac disease, their...

Strategies to improve nutrition in elderly people

Many older people suffer from the “anorexia of ageing”....

Infant formula

Although breastfeeding is the best option for an infant, cows’...

The investigation of coeliac disease: A follow up

Dr Richard Steele provides some clarification on the issue of...

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome affects approximately 1 in 10 people,...

Coeliac Disease

Coeliac disease is a common but often unrecognised disorder,...

Constipation

Most cases of constipation in adults are mild and intermittent...

Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance affects many adults and children. It is...

The Importance of Being Regular

Assessing the risk and benefit of alternative therapy for GI...

10 minute audit: Identifying your patients on colchicine

Dear Dave

Can Proton Pump Inhibitors cause vitamin B12 deficiency?

Winter Ills

Bronchiolitis | Cough in children | Fever in children | Acute...

10 minute audit: omeprazole

This audit is designed to identify people in your practice on...

Managing heartburn undifferentiated dyspepsia and functional dyspepsia in general practice

Heartburn, undifferentiated dyspepsia and functional dyspepsia...

Testing for Coeliac disease

Anti-endomysial (EMA) antibody or anti-tissue transglutaminase...