chatwithketch

Q: Good evening Dr., I have been having this really disturbing itch on the left side of my breast nipple. Please, I want to know what could be the cause?

A: There are many different causes of nipple itch and they include:

• Eczema that is usually found to run in families with a history of allergies. Preventive/control measures include using mild soap to take a bath, followed by a mild moisturizer. Also do not use water that is too hot for a bath as this dries out your skin and makes the itching from eczema worse. Use warm water if you must and then dab your skin leaving some moisture. Lock in this moisture with a moisturizer. Stress is also a trigger for this and so reducing your stress levels and exercising may be helping in more ways than one. Anti-histamines (helpful with itching) and over the counter steroid creams are also useful. For severe cases, please see your doctor for a prescription of more potent steroids, immuno suppressant drugs, ultra violet light therapy etc.
• Friction: In this case, not wearing a bra or wearing a poorly fitted bra during exercise routines may lead to rubbing of the nipples against the fabric and consequent itching and/or pain.
• Sensitivity to the weather (hot or cold), certain fabrics, detergents or even creams/lotions may lead to nipple itch and pain. If specific detergents or creams cause this, you may have to change them.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding can also lead to this condition. In pregnancy, the pregnancy hormones lead to the nipples being extra sensitive and during breastfeeding, the baby may not latch on well to the nipple, there could be blocked ducts or mastitis or breast abscess etc leading to pain. During pregnancy, be sure to choose bras made with fabric that can ‘breath’ like cotton. And during breastfeeding, be sure to get help with making sure you know how to put baby to the breast to prevent sore nipples etc.
• Cancer (Paget’s disease of the breast) can also be a cause of nipple itch with eczema-like symptoms on the nipple and/or surrounding areola.

So, where in doubt…especially if you have tried to rule out the causes above, please see your doctor.

Have a fab night, y’all 😀

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

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSje4P0Fk4Y/?taken-by=ddrketch

Q: Doc what causes pee urine that has blood? I have a friend…She is having itching on her vagina and as a result anytime she urinates she sees blood coming out as she urinate. What kind of infection is that?

A: This question is quite common…but comes with a couple of variations. I repeat a post ?I/ had made to a similar question in the past.

A common cause of this is Urinary Tract Infection. This is an infection that occurs anywhere in the urinary tract (Genius me, right :D) and includes infections of the kidneys, the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder),  the bladder (the reservoir or store house for the urine) and the urethra (the tube that transports the urine from the bladder to the outside).

So, who is more likely to have an infection and why? Women are more likely to have infections and this is because they have short urethrae (those tubes that transport the urine outside) and because the opening of this tube is very close to the opening of the anus. And so, if a woman urinates and has not quite mastered the art of cleaning from the front to the back, she could transfer bacteria from her anus to her urethra and this in turn travels up and infects the bladder.

Women who also use the birth control method, diaphragm are also at risk as it may cause the bladder not to empty completely when they urinate. Indeed, not urinating immediately after sexual intercourse in women may also predispose to this as the urethra may have may have become irritated, making it easier for germs to move in. People with depressed immune systems, frequent constipation and some people born with some disorders of their uro-genital system are also prone to UTIs. In men, narrowing of the urethra which may happen in men who have had straddle injuries (eg falling astride {with legs apart} on a pole…ouch!), history of STIs or prostrate problems may make a man open to UTIs.

What symptoms does a person with UTI have? They would complain of feeling they have to urgently urinate often and then when they do get to the toilet, they can only pass out very little urine, pain or burning sensation during urination, pain in the flank (just under the ribs at the back), the urine may be cloudy or reddish or coke coloured, fever with chills and rigours etc. Where these infections are due to candida albicans, there will be associated itching.

UTIs have to be treated because these infections could keep back tracking from the urethra to the bladder to the ureters and then to the kidneys…we don’t want that do we?! 😀

Treatment is focused on eradicating the infection…of course 😀 Usually a urine sample is taken to the lab. Part of the lab work is a culture and sensitivity test to find out the organisms causing the infection and the specific antibiotic that is active against it. Please take your prescription for the right period of time even if your symptoms disappear before you finish. Your doctor may also order other tests as he sees fit eg checking out for congenital defects etc.

Apart from the preventive tips above, be sure to drink lots of water which help dilute your urine and help flush out the bacteria. As I have written several times before, leave douches well alone, ladies! This habit may lead to irritation of the urethra and we don’t want that J

Other causes of blood in urine include:

• Kidney stones
• Bladder stones
• Kidney infection
• Kidney disease
• Cancer
• Medications

I hope this helps.

Have a goodnight, everyone 😀

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSZUFn2lAAF/?taken-by=ddrketch

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSZE58dFdtu/?taken-by=ddrketch

Erectile dysfunction (ED), once shrouded in secrecy, is now in the spotlight, thanks to high-profile advertisements for drugs like Cialis, Viagra, Levitra, and Stendra. But despite this greater awareness of ED, many men — and women — don’t really know much about this condition. Here are four things to know about ED.

Want to know more, please click on the links below: below: http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/4-things-you-should-know-about-erectile-dysfunction

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/5-natural-ways-to-overcome-erectile-dysfunction

Have a great weekend

It is National Doctors’ Day in the US. Unfortunately, we do not have such a day in Nigeria…at least, not yet 🙂

This day is set aside to honour doctors and the sacrifices they make everyday for the good of everyone. And yes, I know that our healthcare system in Nigeria is fractured and has a whole lot of problems, but today, I choose to celebrate my colleagues who go out every single day to save lives and make a difference.

Dear family, join me in celebrating all doctors worldwide, without whom the world would have a little bit more pain. Happy Doctors’ Day to all physicians!

Feel free to share stories of special doctors who have made a difference in your respective lives.

Have a good evening, everyone 😀

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSREht8A9iB/?taken-by=ddrketch