chatwithketch

Q: Hello ma’am. Please ma’am, my daughter is about 4yrs + and she is just having temperature, cough and catarrh

A: Generally, cough could be due to common cold, allergies or other irritants in the environment, croup, whooping cough etc.

Generally, cough could be due to common cold, allergies or other irritants in the environment, croup, whooping cough etc.

First, if your baby’s cough is due to a cold, you really don’t need to give your baby any drug. A cold is a viral infection and once it causes an infection, it will run its course before it stops. And so, with or without drugs, a cold will go. It would usually last for about a week to 10 days and then disappear. There’s no need for antibiotics for a viral infection. Indeed, taking antibiotics when they are not needed leads to antibiotic resistance where the antibiotics can no longer properly do their jobs when they are really needed to fight infections.

Then some of the ingredients in the cough syrups can also cause a baby’s heart to beat faster, may cause convulsions and basically do not treat the cause of the cough. They are actually not supposed to be used for children younger than 2 to 3 years of age.

Now, what can you do in the meantime?

Let your baby sleep in your arms or in a semi-upright position. You can prop him up with lots of pillows at night.

Offer your baby fluids and if there is congestion in the nose, use a saline spray. You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for this.

An air humidifier also moistens the air and makes it easier for your baby to breath. If you don’t have this, you can let your baby breath in steam from a hot shower.

A suction bulb can also help remove mucous from your baby’s nose.  You can ask for one in the hospital or a pharmacy.

Please see your baby’s doctor if this cough continues and/or your baby develops a fever and this cough lasts more than 2 weeks.  If your baby also has difficulty breathing, cannot breathe or feed, you should also see his/her doctor.

Have a great night, y’all 😀

 ##HLWDK

Q: Dear Doctor, I have been a dirt clay addict for almost four years of my teen, could this mean I am likely to suffer from being infertile? Please help I want to stop.

A: Eating clay and other non-food items is referred to as pica consumption. Ingestion of clay is known as geophagia. Sometimes, this is associated with deficiencies of certain minerals or vitamins in the body, but some other times, you just can’t find anything that you can attribute the craving for. People eat clay for different reasons. Some claim to like the taste and the texture. More commonly, some pregnant women claim that it helps them to prevent the nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy.

Indeed, some new ‘regimens’ claim that clay has a detoxifying effect on the body when ingested. Well, I haven’t seen any evidence for this claim. There is however, evidence that some of these clay products eaten may be contaminated with arsenic or lead leading to arsenic or lead poisoning with attendant complications.

So, to answer your question simply, will this habit make you infertile? Maybe not, but it’s definitely not healthy. So, please see your doctor to confirm if you’re iron-deficient. If this is the case, correction of this may solve the problem. Otherwise, your doctor will work with you to find the reasons why you crave clay and alternatives to this.

For more on pica consumption, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/05/19/daily-health-tips-if-i-drink-water-when-i-am-pregnant-will-my-baby-be-born-with-a-cold/

Have a good night, people 😀

Q: Hi doc! I am kindly asking is it right to be given twice the yellow fever injection because l was given last year August which will last for 10yrs.Is there a difference between yellow fever for ten years and life time? Thanks in advance

A: Hallos! Thanks for writing in.

Previously, the yellow fever vaccine was taken every ten years but since 2016, that regulation has changed. From 11^th of July 2016, the WHO, on its website, states that the certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is valid for life for everyone vaccinated and that this validity refers to existing and new certificates. For the latter, the lifetime validity starts 10 days after date of vaccination. This has effectively cancelled out the need for re-vaccination.

So, there is no difference. The vaccination that used to be received and was valid for 10 years is now valid for the duration of your lifetime. If you had received the vaccination before, you don’t need to modify your certificate. The old one is still valid and will be recognized by countries that require proof of this vaccination.

I hope this helps.

All the best!

Have a good night y’all 😀

Q: Good morning ma’am. Please ma’am, I am worried. I am 37weeks pregnant now and last night I had a reddish spots on my panties, though it was very small but I am still worried. I didn’t see it when I wiped earlier this morning. I don’t know if it is a problem. Help me with an advice even though it was just a stain. God bless you ma’am

A: Bleeding during pregnancy can be worrying whether it’s a little or a lot. But, it may not necessarily be the sign of a problem.

Bleeding can occur in early pregnancy, close to or about the same time as the menstruation would and thus be mistaken for a period. This bleeding could be due to implantation as the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus (womb). Other causes of bleeding in early pregnancy include ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and infections.

For more information on ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage please click on these links:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/08/07/daily-health-tips-what-are-my-options-after-ectopic-pregnancy-and-failed-ivf/

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/12/14/daily-health-tips-miscarriage-and-infertility-re-visited/

At 37 weeks, your pregnancy is considered full term. So, it may even be ‘show’ that you saw. Show is a mucous plug that may be tinged with blood and is a sign that your cervix (neck of womb) is getting ready for labour. Placenta previa is likely to cause bleeding from sometime around the second trimester of pregnancy, but of course, every episode of bleeding in pregnancy, irrespective of trimester, should be checked out in the hospital. Depending on the severity of the bleeding and the age of the pregnancy, the doctor would decide whether bed rest or emergency Caesarian section would be applicable. If bed rest is recommended, sexual intercourse and physical exertion including exercise, at this time may not be wise. Please discuss this with your doctor.

For more on placenta previa, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/03/09/daily-health-tips-can-placenta-previa-recur-in-my-pregnancy/

So, I suggest you go see your doctor immediately.

All the best!

Food cravings and aversions: I certainly had loads of aversions with my first pregnancy. I can’t remember any cravings as I couldn’t get any food to stay down. However, some people develop a craving for the oddest, craziest foods when pregnant. Go easy on eating for two though…the healthy living dictum of eating loads of fruits/vegetables and low calories does not change during pregnancy. The more you gorge or give in to the food cravings, the more work you have to do to get it off after the baby. However, if you find yourself craving things like clay, sand etc, please see your doctor as it could be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia.

For more on pregnancy, diet and so much more, get your copy of the book, ‘Just For The Health Of It’

This is a great read and a fabulous gift to loved ones. It is a great gift for anyone who wishes to live and eat healthy, lose weight, get ready for pregnancy and parenting. Buy copies for bridal showers, baby showers, festive seasons etc. It’s a gift that keeps on giving

Here’s what someone said after receiving it as a gift:

‘Good morning, Dr Ketch. I was given your book (Just For The Health Of It) as a Christmas gift by a friend of mine. I’m so happy. God bless you’

Make yourself and someone else happy by getting a copy from any of the following outlets:

1) Laterna Books online shop with nationwide delivery. Just click on this link: https://www.laternabooks.com/laterna_product_details.php?v=15450&c=44

2) Another option for those in Lagos is Laterna Bookshop on 13, Oko-Awo Close, Off Adetokunbo Ademola Street,. Victoria Island. 

3) If you’re outside the country, please visit Amazon through this link http://www.amazon.com/Just-Health-Ketch-Pregnancy-Parenting/dp/9789398026/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426246647&sr=1-1&keywords=just+for+the+health+of+it+with+dr+ketch+olalere+nkechi

For those in Abuja and environs, please call 07030739403 or pick it up at No 5 Bricks Market, Dawaki 11 Market, Dawaki extension.

4) For those in Awka, please call 08189944090.

Have a great week ahead, y’all

Q: Dr. please help me out. I have issue with hormonal imbalance. What should I do?

A: A collection of tissues called the endocrine system is responsible for the production of hormones, which control various functions in the body like metabolism, sexual reproduction, mood etc. Sometimes, these hormones are produced in excessive or too little amounts throwing the whole body off.

Treatment of hormonal imbalance is dependent on the cause. Excess weight can lead to high estrogen levels. So, exercise and weight loss can be beneficial here. High levels of thyroid hormones can be treated with drugs, radioactive iodine or surgery. The stress hormone, cortisol is produced when one is stressed and so treatment is focused on stress management techniques. The hormone, prolactin which is responsible for lactation in nursing mothers may be produced even when one is not lactating. Focus here is on reducing this hormone levels as will be described below.

Therefore, the first thing that needs to be done now is for your doctor has to investigate to find out the exact cause of the imbalance and then treat accordingly.

All the best!

Q: Good morning ma’am, I do feel severe pains during my period. Please ma’am, what can I use to stop or reduce the pains? Tanks for your care ma’am.

A: Menstrual cramps can take the very joy out of living…at the time you have them.

Cramps usually occur as the uterus tries to get rid of the foreign body, in this case, blood within it. Cramps appear, sometimes, to be more of an issue for some girls than the actual menstruation itself. For most girls, in the first few years of starting their periods, they usually do not have cramps and when these cramps eventually start showing up, they usually last for a few days.

How do we relieve menstrual pain?

Anticipate the pain before it actually arrives by taking some analgesics in the same class as ibuprofen called NSAIDs. These drugs have to be taken with food because they can cause peptic ulcer and so it is important NEVER to start using them without confirming from your doctor that this is fine for you.

Avoid foods that contain caffeine, salty foods, alcohol, smoking and sugary foods. You’ve probably heard the story about alcohol being a great idea during periods…I’m just not sure whether it’s meant to put you in a stupor so you don’t really feel the pain or for some other reason. I can tell you though that it helps you none, during your period Focus on complex carbohydrates during this period (and other times too: whole grains, fruits and vegetables)

Rest up when you need it and you could also use a hot water bottle on your lower abdomen.

Drinking warm fluids and exercising are also very helpful.

Remember to maintain the greatest sense of hygiene during this period (bath at least twice, change sanitary towels and panties often and ensure you smell nice….just don’t pour the whole bottle of perfume over yourself. That makes it smell like you’ve got a secret you’re hiding :D)

Usually after having had a baby, the cramps from period totally disappear or reduce significantly. In other instances though, it may be a good idea to see your doctor as fibroids and some other conditions can make menstrual cramps really painful and heavy.

If self-help remedies do not work, please see your doctor to get checked out and rule out other causes of severe menstrual pain like endometriosis, a situation where some tissue of the womb/uterus grow outside of the uterus or fibroids.

Have a good night y’all 😀

Q: Thanks for this Doc but is it not too early for a 12year old to start menstruating?

Very good question. The post below, which I made a while ago, should answer your question.

Q: Good day sir. Please sir is there anything someone should do for a child of 8 years who has started developing breast. Thanks

A: Okay….first of all, I’m not a sir 😀 And then, what to do? Nothing! Not very helpful, aye?

Before I launch into the gist proper, please don’t also listen to the old school gist of how it may be that some boys are taking undue liberties with her and thus, she’s developing her breast faster than her mates. It has nothing to do with that! By all means, ensure that undue liberties are not being taken but don’t blame the ‘breast buds’ on that 😀

The thing is, there are various shades of normal when it comes to children. Puberty, generally for girls, can occur any time between 8 to 13 years. There are people who experience what is called precocious puberty and would experience the signs of puberty earlier than other children. There may be nothing wrong with these children…they may just be on the very early side of normal 😀 But, if a child starts experiencing puberty before the age of 7, please be sure to see take her in to see the doctor.

The first sign of puberty in girls is what your daughter is experiencing: breast development which starts off as lumps which may be tender around the nipple area. Other signs to follow include growing pubic hairs, widening of the hips, onset of menstruation etc.

Please make this period as trauma-free as possible. Worrying about her breasts ‘coming out too soon’ may make her self-conscious about it and the whole process of shopping for bras with her which ought to be a fun thing, becomes a nightmare! 😀 My experience was actually a nightmare! My mum (very educated medical doctor) would try on the band of the bra on top of whatever dress I happened to be wearing whenever we went shopping for bras….I almost died several times over 😀 (sorry mum!) Why on earth would she want to advertise that I wear bras to the whole world?! As if the world couldn’t see?

And so, with my children, I’m more sensitive. If they don’t want to call it a bra and prefer to call the real bras, bra tops…I’m happy to call it that 😀 When we’re done buying, I have to carry the goodies to the checkout counter…heaven forbid that anyone suspects that they wear such horrible contraptions as bras!!! Same for when we go shopping for sanitary towels 😀 Okay, enough said. They’ll probably not talk to me for a year when they see that I posted about this 😀
So, dear mum, I trust that you have had the talk with your daughter? Before puberty starts would have been a good time. If you failed to do this earlier, now is a good a time as any. Remember to go for facts rather than fiction. That whole gist about getting pregnant when a boy touches you went out with the dark ages. Keep the gist matter of fact and be sure to use real names of body parts 😀 In addition, whatever you do, be available and approachable…your daughter needs you now, more than ever!

I hope this helps.

Like a friend said to me recently, it’s Friday eve! Enjoy!!!

Q: Good day Dr. Ketch, I am in my early month of pregnancy and is finding it difficult to pass stool. Please help.

A: Welcome to the land of pregnancy and raging hormones!!! This is going to be an interesting period in your life and your hormones are going to act up in different ways.

Constipation is common in pregnancy and is due to the hormones of pregnancy, which make the muscles of your digestive tract work in a more leisurely manner. This ensures that food stays longer in the tract, more nutrients are absorbed from it (so that more nutrients can go to baby) but also more water is absorbed from it, leaving the poop hard and constipated. The iron-containing pre-natal drugs may also contribute to this but you do have to take them ;D

Tips to help you deal with the constipation include:

• Adding more fruits and veggies to meals.
• Eating small quantities at a time. You could try to aim for 5 small meals (breakfast, lunch dinner and 2 snacks in between) per day containing fruits, Veggies, complex carbs and proteins. Snacks can be a handful of nuts, etc
• Drink sufficient amounts of water. At least 8 glasses. Remember that this depends on your activity and weather condition. If you find yourself in a hot environment where you’re sweating a lot, by all means drink some more.
• Some activity is also useful in getting things ‘down there’ to move along 😀 Remember to check with your doctor, what activities are safe for you to undertake when pregnant.
• Yoghurt with probiotics is also a great idea and helps the stomach bacteria break down the food and more importantly, keep it moving along.

For more symptoms of pregnancy and the red flags, please click on the link below:

https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/10/26/baby-in-the-tummy-its-all-up-to-mummy-is-it/

Have a fabulous week, people 😀

Q: Good evening ma’am. Please ma’am,  I want to ask a question. What could be the cause of stooling light blood and it smells so bad? And whenever I use the toilet, I feel pain in my anus. Please, I need an urgent reply ma’am. Thanks

A: Hello! Thanks for writing in.

The first question I have for you is whether the blood is bright red or altered (almost brownish/black)? If it’s bright red, it is likely coming from the anus or somewhere close by. If it’s altered blood, it’s likely coming from higher up in the digestive system eg bleeding from a peptic ulcer. You should see your doctor immediately, if you experience this.

Common causes of bright red bleeding include:

·      Anal fissure

·      Piles (haemorrhoids)

·      Cancer of the rectum or colon

·      Gastro-enteritis: infection of the stomach and intestines

·      Inflammatory bowel diseas

·      Anti-coagulant drugs

You cannot make the diagnosis of what is serious and what is not. So, I suggest you see your doctor to examine you and make a diagnosis.

I will discuss the first two conditions (anal fissure and piles) below;

Constipation can lead to conditions where the stool is so hard that it causes a tear of the skin lining the anus (anal fissure) leading to blood seen with the stool.

Prevention is focused on ensuring that you have enough fibre in your diet (fruits, vegetables, whole grain), getting at least 30 minutes of exercise daily and drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily. When you have the urge to poo, try not to delay it for too long. Go and try to take your time to do your business!

How can you help this?

§  Include some fibre in your diet. Fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, local rice and other whole grain meals are helpful.

§  Drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily. Remember that this number, 8, is not cast in stone. It’s just a helpful guide. If you’re in a hot area, you’ll probably drink more

§  Get at least 30 minutes of exercise/activity per day or on at least 5 days of the week.

§  If these do not help, you may want to see your doctor for a proper examination as some diseases like Diabetes Mellitus may also cause constipation.

Now for piles…

Piles, known as haemorrhoids in medical lingo are swollen veins in the anal canal. They can be internal, external or both internal and external can co-exist. Internal haemorrhoids occur when veins swell within the rectum and external haemorrhoids are found under the skin around the anus.

These haemorrhoids develop when there is undue pressure in the pelvic and anal area as can occur when people strain to pass faeces (if they have diarrhoea or are constipated), in pregnancy (especially the last 6 months), in obese people, people who eat diets low in fibre and people who practice anal intercourse. When women strain in labour, haemorrhoids can also be made worse. For those who love to visit the toilet with their newspapers and spend ages reading them in there, well, you’ve got breaking news!  Sitting on the toilet seat for prolonged periods can also cause haemorrhoids. As people grow older, the support structures for these veins also grow weaker…naturally 😀

Some internal haemorrhoids can be small veins which stay within the rectum. Usually these internal haemorrhoids, stay inside the anus causing no problems. Other internal haemorrhoids can be big veins that sag and protrude out of the anal canal. Straining would cause their delicate surfaces to bruise and bleed. Sometimes, the straining is sufficient to cause the haemorrhoids to protrude out of the anal canal. This is probably what has been described above in the question. When the haemorrhoids are compressed by anal muscles, the pain is made worse and the pressure can lead to cutting off of blood supply to the haemorrhoids.

External haemorrhoids can clot due to irritation forming a hard, painful lump under the skin around the anus.
People with haemorrhoids will complain of streaks of blood in the stool after stooling, blood on the tissue after cleaning up, anal pain, anal itching or a lump around the anus.

Treatment involves the use of ointments to relieve pain, inflammation and itching. There are other minimally invasive and surgical options available that range from rubber band ligation to surgical removal of the haemorrhoids.
You can also limit the discomfort you have by keeping the anal area clean, using wet wipes (non-perfumed) to clean up after using the loo, sit on a bowl of plain warm water for about 15 minutes about twice or three times per day and also use some pain relief, if in pain.

To prevent this, ensure that your diet has sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables. Remember that if you take a regular flat plate, half of this should be filled with fruits and vegetables, half of the plate with complex carbohydrates and the last half with proteins.

Limit the time you spend sitting on the toilet seat (read your newspapers elsewhere :D), use the toilet as soon as you feel pressed (that way the fluid in the stool is not absorbed making the stool hard) and then don’t strain when you do go. Drink sufficient quantities of water daily, exercise (to keep everything moving along nicely :D)

Remember though that there are other causes of blood in faeces. That’s why this case has to be checked out in the hospital so that a proper diagnosis can be made.

I hope this helps.

Have a good night y’all 😀