Q: Good morning Dr. Please, I have been having heat round my ribs and my stomach. Please, what is the cause? Dr, I have taken Moko Mist-Mag medicine and the situation has not changed. Please what can I do for now?

A: Hello. Thanks for writing in. Some additional information may have been helpful. Do you have other symptoms like vomiting with or without blood stains, bloating etc? Are your symptoms related to eating? It does sound like dyspepsia which is pain that is associated with your upper digestive tract like the oesophagus, stomach or duodenum (the first part of the small intestine).

Causes include:
Peptic Ulcer Disease. For more on this, please click on the link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/03/04/daily-health-tips-what-foods-should-i-avoid-if-i-have-peptic-ulcer/

Hiatus Hernia. For more on this, please click on the link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/14/daily-health-tips-i-am-scared-because-i-have-hernia/

Acid reflux. For more on this, please click on the link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/11/13/daily-health-tips-can-i-take-folic-acid-if-i-have-gerd/

Infection with an organism called Helicobacter pylori may also be the cause.

Some drugs like pain killers eg aspirin and other drugs in this class. Some antibiotics are also culprits and sometimes, no cause can be found for this.

Treatment depends on the cause and your doctor will need to investigate properly. The antacid you are taking appears not t be helping much and so this may need to be changed. If the test for Helicobacter pylori is positive then antibiotics will be prescribed.

Your doctor will also take you through some lifestyle changes that may be helpful like eating regular meals, giving up smoking and reducing alcohol intake.

Be guided by your doctor so a proper diagnosis can be made and proper treatment instituted.

Have a good night everyone 😀