chatwithketch

Worried about eczema in you or your baby? If your baby has eczema, you should find helpful tips in the post below https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/3-things-you-can-do-when-your-childs-eczema-gets-bad-2017011010996

If you (an adult) have eczema, follow this other link for helpful tips https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/03/01/daily-health-tips-what-can-i-do-about-the-eczema-on-my-skin/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd7fHvXlHc4/?taken-by=ddrketch

Q: Doc, I have been struggling with breast milk discharge after a miscarriage. I have possibly tried the cabbage, ice pack etc methods but is not working for almost a year now. What will I do please… I need help

A: Condolences on your loss! I cannot imagine what you are going through. Please make out time to mourn your baby and then as soon as you can, open up your heart to the possibilities in your future. I hope loving supportive family and friends surround you. Hugs 😀

Sometimes after a miscarriage, the body does not quite recognize that there is no longer a need to feed a baby. And so, it just continues to produce milk.

Now, for stopping milk production, you appear to have taken some of the usually advised actions eg use of ice packs. But I repeat them in this post, just in case you did not use correctly.

In the good old days, mothers would tell their daughters to tie a wrapper tightly across their breasts. This helps. In fact, I believe that this is still being done by lots of people. If you’re more jet age, though wear a firm supportive bra, night and day.

For the pain, take analgesics and also apply cold packs to your breasts. These cold packs can be packs of frozen veggies or even cold cabbage leaves. For the latter, wash the cabbage leaves and put them in the fridge. Remove the areas that have big veins as they may hurt your tender breasts. Put this cold cabbage leaves in your bra and change to another set of cold ones every 2 hours or when the cabbage leaves feel limp.

Try not to stimulate the nipples during this period. Use a breast pad to prevent leakages.

If you find that your breasts still fill up, then express some breast milk. Express until you fill comfortable…not until you empty out the breast.

Keep hydrated and try to lie on your back or your side when sleeping.

I suggest you see your doctor, if this condition continues and you need reassurance. It’s also important to rule out other causes.

Your baby will always have a special place in your heart. And you will yet smile….very soon.

Loads of hugs…

Dear Healthy Living with Dr. Ketch family,

Happy New Year! I hope you have started the year with a determination to live your best life yet. I have!

I have made a couple of improvements to this platform to ensure that I meet the different and diverse needs of y’all 🙂

From now on, if you send a message to my inbox, you will be presented with 3 options:

·       Ask your question – Just go ahead and type your question in there and I will revert

·       Visit my blog – Clicking on the link takes you to my blog to search for the answer

·       Schedule a meeting – Clicking on this link takes you to a booking page where you can schedule a one-on-one live chat with me. You can choose from any of two options: 15 minutes or 30 minutes. So, if your question is urgent or you have a lot of follow-on questions, this option will work for you!

Remember that you can still send in your questions as posts on the page. The options above will only be presented if you send a message to the inbox.

I hope this makes your interaction with this page easier and faster. Please let me know if there are other ways, we can serve you better!

Have a great weekend! 😀

Q: What causes burning sensation under the feet in the elderly?

A: People 45 years or older may be more likely to have this and it shows up during activity or even at night making sleep difficult. It may be temporary or permanent depending on the cause.

Some causes of this sensation include:
Peripheral neuropathy: This is a situation where peripheral nerves (a network of nerves which connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body) are damaged with resultant symptoms like tingling or burning sensations. Diabetes Mellitus is a common cause of this problem

Menopause: The hormonal changes in menopause may lead to the feeling of ‘heat’ in the feet etc

Other conditions that could cause this include vitamin deficiency, alcohol abuse, kidney or liver problems, HIV/AIDS, low thyroid hormone levels, heavy metal posioning etc.

The treatment, of course, would depend on the cause. So, please take the person concerned in to see the doctor. He will make a diagnosis and advice on treatment.

Have a great evening, y’all 😀

Q: Good pm doc, please I am 3 months pregnant and I am having itching and a lot of discharge in my vaginal, what is the remedy to it? Thanks ma’am

A: In pregnancy, the decrease in tolerance to glucose which may occur, means that the vagina has a rich supply of sugar which encourages the fungi to grow and multiply as they love the dark, warm, moist and rich environment 😀

Usually, there is yeast (fungi) in the vagina and they generally mind their own business until something comes along to disturb the peace of the environment. This disturbance can be in the form of abuse of antibiotics (which kills off the good bacteria that hold the fungi at bay causing them to take over and overgrow the environment) or even in pregnancy (where the estrogen hormone produced in pregnancy messes with the normal order of co-existence of fungi and bacteria, again, allowing the fungi to take over). Other conditions associated candidiasis include Diabetes Mellitus, disorders of the immune system, use of oral contraceptives, the hormonal changes associated with menstrual cycle etc.

How can this be prevented? Trust me, I’m not going to suggest not getting pregnant 😀 There are things you can do to reduce your risk of this infection. They include:
• Wear cotton panties instead of tight fitting nylon panties.
• Always wipe from the front to the back, after using the bathroom
• Do not use perfumed personal care products like sanitary towels, tissue etc
• Do not spray perfumes in your genitals and avoid perfumed soaps
• Change out of wet swimming gear as soon as possible

Now, this infection can be treated using oral drugs (tablets to be taken by mouth) but these are not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Vaginal pessaries and creams are better bets in pregnancy. However, because of the very small possibility of hurting your cervix (the neck of the womb), it is advisable not to use the applicator to administer the pessary. Instead, use your finger to insert the pessary. It may be necessary to continue the drug application for about 6 days as opposed to the shorter 3-day course. Your doctor will confirm diagnosis and advice on medication duration.

For more on candidiasis, please click on the following links:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/26/daily-health-tips-why-do-i-have-recurrent-candidiasis/
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/03/07/daily-health-tips-toilet-infection-seriously/
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/04/27/daily-health-tips-is-vaginal-discharge-normal/

Have a great weekend, y’all 😀

Q: Hi doctor, I’m short of iron in my body so what must I eat?

A: Shortage of iron can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia because iron is needed to produce new red blood cells. Folic acid and Vitamin B-12 are also important in the process. Anaemia occurs when the amount of red blood cells in the blood is not enough. Simply put, a shortage (deficiency of red blood cells). To confirm this diagnosis, a Full Blood Count (FBC) or Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test is done.

To make up deficiency of red blood cells, iron and vitamin intake should be increased. Supplements are an option, however, as I always say, supplements are meant to plug holes that exist in the diet and not be the main stay of the diet itself. So, it’s much better to eat iron rich food like: eggs, shellfish, beans and other legumes, green leafy vegetables, lean red meat, iron-enriched wheat bread and cereals.

People particularly at risk are pregnant women and menstruating women. For some ladies, during menstruation, the bleeding is heavy with lots of clots. It may lead to a situation where the body is unable to keep up by manufacturing new blood cells to replace those being lost. These women need to increase their intake of iron.

Iron, however, can lead to constipation and so, for people who use the supplement, be sure you are taking enough fruits and vegetables and drinking sufficient water.

Be sure that you are also being guided by your doctor as some levels of anaemia will require a blood transfusion.

Have a good night, everyone 😀

Q: Please ma’am, I want to know the meaning of Hepatitis B, and the effect on someone and the treatment for it

A: Hepatitis refers to inflammation (a situation that causes swelling, redness, heat and pain of affected area) of the liver cells caused by a viral infection or damage to the liver as a result of drinking too much alcohol.

The liver is an organ in the body which is usually found on the right side of your abdomen, just under the rib cage. Its job is to ensure that toxins taken into the body are rendered harmless, food is digested properly and the nutrients available in it, properly absorbed.

There are different types of hepatitis and some of them will not cause serious problems while others will cause long lasting damage to the liver and could lead to cancer.

The symptoms of liver disease include yellowness of the eyes and/or skin, dark urine, pale (light coloured) stool, itching, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling etc. You are more at risk of this if you work in a center where you handle body fluids (so this list includes healthcare workers). Other people who are more at risk include diabetics, obese people, people who take a lot of alcohol, drug abusers (this includes people who use illicit drugs and those who abuse prescription drugs), people who are in the habit of indiscriminate and unsafe sex etc

Hepatitis A: This is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated by the faeces of someone who already has the infection. This is usually common in areas with poor sanitation. This infection would usually resolve after a couple of months but sometimes it could be very serious and life-threatening. Treatment is focused on symptoms like pain, itching etc

Prevention is vaccination with the Hepatitis A vaccine.

Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B infection is caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and it can cause very serious symptoms in people or it could very well pass unnoticed and be discovered by chance as in this question. The infections that occur in adults are usually acute and the body is able to clear the infection within 6 months. However, in a small proportion of adults and in a lot of infections occurring in children, the infection remains the body for a long time (chronic) leading to complications like liver failure and cirrhosis (long term liver disease in which there is scarring of the liver due to different types of liver disease) of the liver.

The symptoms include yellowness of the skin and eyes, dark urine, fatigue, body and joint aches etc. These symptoms vary in severity and appear about 3 months after infection.

Causes of HBV infections include contact with infected sharps like needles, sexual contact with an infected person, having multiple seal partners, sharing needles used for intravenous drug use.

If one suspects exposure to HBV infection, an immunoglobulin injection if taken within 24 hours can prevent the infection. Treatment depends on the type of HBV infection…whether acute or chronic. To confirm whether the infection is acute or chronic, the doctor runs a couple of tests.

The Hepatitis B surface antigen. A positive test result confirms that an infection is present but does not tell us if it is acute or chronic.

The Hepatitis B surface antibody. A positive test confirms that an infection had occurred but the body had developed antibodies to fight off the infection. This person is no longer contagious.

The Hepatitis B core antibody. A positive result tells us that a past or present infection exists. This is mainly interpreted in conjunction with the other two tests.

If the core antibody is positive and the surface antibody is positive, it means that the body had encountered this infection and fought it off in the past. This is likely to be an acute infection.

If the core antibody is positive and the surface antigen positive, it is more likely to be a chronic infection.

Treatment for acute infections focus on alleviating the symptoms noted above. Treatment for chronic infections focus on use of antiviral drugs and other medications that improve liver function. If liver function Is badly affected, transplant might be an option.

So, the first focus for you is to confirm if this is an acute or a chronic infection. That will determine the way forward. Remember that you can improve liver function by staying off alcohol, exercising, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and not self-prescribing.

To avoid this infection, reduce your risk factors: Know the Hepatitis status of partner and be faithful to that person, where necessary, use condoms, stop the use of illicit drugs, do not share needles and other sharps, be careful with tatooing et al.

Vaccines are available for this virus and is now listed on the National Program on Immunization schedule. All adults who also have risk factors as noted above should also take this vaccine.

Hepatitis C: This is spread through blood to blood contact eg sharing needles. In a few cases, people can fight off the infection, but in most people, the virus survives and causes chronic (long standing) infection which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. There is no vaccine for this infection.

Hepatitis D: This is caused by Heaptitis D virus and only occurs in people already infected by the Heaptitis B virus as it requires the latter to survive in the body.

It is spread through blood to blood and sexual contact. Long term infection with this can put one at risk of liver failure and cirrhosis. There is no vaccine against this but given its relationship with Hepatitis B, vaccination against Hepatitis B can provide some protection against this as well.

Hepatitis E: This is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated by the faeces of someone who already has the infection. This infection is usually mild and would usually resolve without treatment but sometimes it could be very serious and life-threatening. It can also become long term especially in people with suppressed immune systems.

There is no vaccine for this infection. Focus is on ensuring good hygiene.

Other types of hepatitis include:

Alcoholic hepatitis due to taking excessive amounts of alcohol over years. This can lead to liver failure, cirrhosis or liver cancer. Prevention is reducing your alcohol intake or stopping completely J

Auto-immune hepatitis is is a situation in which the body begins to attack its own liver cells for no reason. Treatment is the use of drugs to suppress the body’s immune system.

What foods should a hepatitis patient take? A healthy balanced diet, really. Stay off alcohol though as this causes further damage to the liver. Be sure to drink sufficient amounts of water daily and discuss all drugs you’re taking with your doctor.

I hope this helps.

Q: Hello doctor, my daughter have white substance in her private part I noticed it since when she is a week old and now she is two years old. Could she be having an infection?

A: Hello Mum! Thanks for writing in and being very observant!

Is it normal for a newborn baby to have vaginal discharge? Actually, yes it is. Baby girls may have clear, white, cloudy white or even bloody discharge after birth. This is as a result of your hormones that she was exposed to while in your womb. This is normal and should have disappeared by the time you go for your post-natal appointment.

Thereafter, the cause of the vaginal discharge can be a foreign body that got in there…a hair bead or even a bit of tissue left after cleaning up, for example. That is sufficient to cause significant discharge.

Other causes include:

§  Prolonged contact between skin in the genital area and faeces and/or urine

§  Other skin irritants like perfume, use of bubble bath and/or perfumed soap

§  Lack of cleanliness.

§  Bacterial infections

§  Other infections like measles

Poor personal hygiene is a common cause as children start to go to school and begin to take care of their hygiene themselves especially after using the bathroom. It is critical that our babies are taught to clean themselves properly by wiping from the front to the back. Please do some sort of spot check to ensure that they have cleaned thoroughly 😀

Is this discharge associated with itching? If so and the discharge is cheesy white and thick, it may be candidiasis. Please let the doctor confirm the diagnosis. He will take a detailed history and find out what exactly this discharge is or is not.

If it is due to candidiasis, it may be due immune system compromise by antibiotics and is also found in children diagnosed with diabetes.

To prevent this discharge, start by ensuring your baby wears loose cotton undies and do not give her antibiotics she does not need. As had been mentioned on this page before, all that is needed to wash your delicate inner self is clean water and clean hands. Teach her that. Ensure that your baby dries properly, especially the vulval area (pat dry) after a bath to prevent the build-up of fluid and warmth that encourages fungal growth. Discourage tight clothing and if anything, encourage her to wear skirts. Encourage her to also sleep without underwear at night as often as possible and if your home situation is conducive enough for it.

So, get her checked out by her pediatrician as soon as possible.

All the best.