Daily Health Tips: Does Staphylococcus aureus Have A Cure?

Posted on November 23, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Hello Dr Ketch a test was carried out on me and my fiance and discovered we have Staph aureus some drugs were prescribed like Ciprotab, Fluconazole but I am still having symptoms. I feel I need a good drug prescription. Please does Staph aureus have a cure? Please, I need your advice.

A: Thanks for writing in. I get a lot of questions on Staph aureus infections and though I have answered this a couple of times, the fact that they keep coming means that it is a topical issue. I will make a few comments and then place the link for the last post I made on this topic here.
First, Staphyloccocus lives normally on your skin and nose (and mine too :D) minding its own business until there is a cut or injury that moves it from the skin inside the body.

So, it’s not necessarily a sexually transmitted infection but it can result in an STI if there is contact between an infected area and the genitals.

If the doctor prescribed Fluconazole, it pre-supposes that there was also a fungal infection noted. Again, fungi in the vagina generally mind their business until there is a condition that leads to their overgrowth like abuse of antibiotics, wearing tight panties, douching etc

Giving prescriptions and complying with it is one thing, but even if we take the right does for the appropriate number of days, if we keep leaving ourselves open to conditions that make us more at risk, then we will have recurrent infections. Personal hygiene is important in preventing Staph infections as they are spread by person to person contact and preventing conditions that encourage overgrowth of fungi will help prevent fungal infections. Please click on the link below for more on Staph and vaginal yeast infections:

Daily Health Tips: Why Do I Have Recurrent Candidiasis?

Daily Health Tips: Why Do I Keep Having Staph Infections?

I assume that a swab was taken from you for investigation. The most appropriate drug to use is the one that would have shown up on the results of the test ordered by your doctor. If this wasn’t effective, please return for an evaluation. If it turns out it is the same infection, take the drugs as prescribed and this time, be sure to work on preventing re-infections as this is very easy. Ensure that your partner gets treated too and observes the same rules.

And so, yes, it is possible to treat Staphylococcal infections.

Have a great week, y’all 😀

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Saturday Challenge: Incorporating Veggies Into Meals (video)

Posted on November 22, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Ever wondered how to get your children to eat their veggies? Well, this video is for you! Perhaps, this will stir up some creative juices in you

“For a chance to win N2,000 airtime watch the video and answer the question:

‘Why is exercise mentioned as a means of incorporating veggies into meals?’ (Weird, right???)

The first person to answer correctly, will win our prize.

Terms and conditions:

Participants must be followers of this blog. If you’re not a follower, just follow us to qualify.

The first correct answer is the winner of the prize.

Only one answer per participant will be accepted.

If a participant provides more than one answer, the first answer will be used.

Edited answers will be disqualified.

This challenge lapses by 11.59 pm on Tuesday, the 25th of November, 2014

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Daily Health Tips: Ingrown Hair In The Groin

Posted on November 21, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening Doctor, please what’s the cause of consistent boil/lumps around the pubic region especially after a shave and how can it be treated to a stop because I have used antibiotics severally and it has little or no effect? I also used an anti-fungal cream.

A: Boils/lumps after a shave may be due to ingrown hair. In Africans, the hair in the groin area is very curly and so it is pretty easy for the hair to curl and grow down instead of growing up and out. These lead to red, raised spots/bumps which could get infected and become pus-filled.

More often than not, an ingrown hair does not require special treatment. They just leave quietly on their own…much like how they came. This of course, presupposes that there is no shaving done during this period to aggravate the situation. In the meantime, do not squeeze the bumps as this may push the bacteria further inside. You could use a soft bristled brush to loosen the hair before shaving or use a sterile needle or tweezers to tease out the ingrown hair(s) if it lies close to the surface.

How to prevent ingrown hairs? Simple! Stop shaving…at least for a while. That’s always an option. There’s always a huge debate about whether things should be kept natural down there! 😀 However, if you choose to shave, try using a scissors to trim, before using a single blade shave stick to shave. Make the hair as wet as possible using shave foam and then shave in the direction of the growth of the hair. And while you may think it’s fun to be completely clean shaven there, try not to shave too close to the skin and rinse the shaver after each stroke:D Pat the area gently afterwards…don’t rub vigorously. Remember that re-using razors you have on the infected parts may lead to further re-infection with bacteria on the surface of the razor.

Your doctor will make a definitive diagnosis. He/she may prescribe some anti-biotic ointment or oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) and some other ointments to stop the inflammation. Remember that antibiotics should be taken for the full period prescribed by the doctor and not stopped as soon as you feel better.

Have a fun-filled weekend 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Ingrown Hair In The Groin

Posted on November 21, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening Doctor, please what’s the cause of consistent boil/lumps around the pubic region especially after a shave and how can it be treated to a stop because I have used antibiotics severally and it has little or no effect? I also used an anti-fungal cream.

A: Boils/lumps after a shave may be due to ingrown hair. In Africans, the hair in the groin area is very curly and so it is pretty easy for the hair to curl and grow down instead of growing up and out. These lead to red, raised spots/bumps which could get infected and become pus-filled.

More often than not, an ingrown hair does not require special treatment. They just leave quietly on their own…much like how they came. This of course, presupposes that there is no shaving done during this period to aggravate the situation. In the meantime, do not squeeze the bumps as this may push the bacteria further inside. You could use a soft bristled brush to loosen the hair before shaving or use a sterile needle or tweezers to tease out the ingrown hair(s) if it lies close to the surface.

How to prevent ingrown hairs? Simple! Stop shaving…at least for a while. That’s always an option. There’s always a huge debate about whether things should be kept natural down there! 😀 However, if you choose to shave, try using a scissors to trim, before using a single blade shave stick to shave. Make the hair as wet as possible using shave foam and then shave in the direction of the growth of the hair. Try to stretch out the skin of the groin area and make it flat as you shave. And while you may think it’s fun to be completely clean shaven there, try not to shave too close to the skin and rinse the shaver after each stroke:D Pat the area gently afterwards…don’t rub vigorously.

Your doctor may prescribe some anti-biotic ointment or oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) and some other ointments to stop the inflammation. Remember that antibiotics should be taken for the full period prescribed by the doctor and not stopped as soon as you feel better.

Have a fun-filled weekend 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Sexual Headaches?

Posted on November 20, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good evening, Doctor… Please what is the cause of headache in the middle of the night especially after sexual intercourse?

A: This sounds like a condition known as sexual headache. It’s also known as sex headache, post-coital headache, orgasmic headache etc. It could occur during sexual intercourse, during orgasm or after sexual intercourse. And it can also occur at any time of the day and during any type of sexual activity.

It is felt at the back of the skull just above the neck and is usually described as throbbing. Or it could build up gradually during sexual intercourse and intensifies as the sexual excitement before an orgasm increases. They can last anything from a few minutes to a few hours; may never recur or may happen a couple more times before gradually fading away.

It is thought to be due to the release of adrenaline and rapid rise in blood pressure which occurs as one approaches orgasm. And so in these cases, the headaches may not be a cause for concern. However, it is also a possibility that these headaches are a sign of a more serious condition like bleeding onto the surface of the brain.
People who usually have migraines, who use recreational drugs like marijuana, use birth control pills etc are more likely to have sex headaches.

Should you swear off sex? Yes, if you’re unmarried 😀 And no, if you’re married;) If you have just experienced this, try lying quietly for about an hour or two after taking an analgesic (like paracetamol) to handle the pain. However, it is very important to see your doctor as soon as possible to let him/her know what happened. This is important because, while there may very well not be any underlying issue, you want to be sure to rule out any serious medical condition causing these headaches. Your doctor will also prescribe some drugs on a regular or intermittent basis to deal with your symptoms.

Have a great night y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Why Do I Have Running Nose All Year Round?

Posted on November 19, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Please mummy, you have to help me out. I sneeze mercilessly up to 2 hours every morning and evening, and then I’ll also have runny nose with colorless and watery fluid, plus itchy eyes. It disturbs me so much.

A: Well, it does sound like some allergy and is known as allergic rhinitis (pronounced Rine-Ai-Tis). This condition, also known as hay fever, occurs when your immune system over-reacts to certain substances in the air (allergens), marking them out as intruders. The resulting symptoms are due to some chemicals released in the body like histamine. These substances cause sneezing especially when you wake up in the morning, runny nose, watery itchy eyes and itchy ears, nose and throat, which could occur seasonally or be present all year round. In fact, the symptoms written above are as good as a text book description of this condition 😀 Oftentimes, in people with this condition, there is a positive history of a family member with asthma or other allergies.
The first step towards dealing with this is finding out what the triggers (allergens) are. It could be dust mites, wood dust, smoke, pollen, grasses, cockroaches etc Your doctor will ask helpful questions to help you identify the culprit. He/she, in the meantime, will prescribe some drugs, the commonest of which is an anti-histamine to help control your symptoms. Other treatment options include taking allergy shots and going for a nasal irrigation (essentially rinsing out the mucous from your nose).

Prevention is focused on identifying and reducing contact with allergens. This would include eradicating cockroaches from your house, using a mask when working outdoors, closing doors and windows when there are lots of pollen in the environment, not hanging laundry outside to prevent pollen sticking to them and causing problems later etc. Reducing dust mites by using oiled duster or damp cloth to clean, using allergen proof covers on mattresses etc will be helpful. For more on dust mites, what they are and how to reduce their population, please click on the links below:

Daily Health Tip: Asthma

Daily Health Tips: What Has Dust Mite Got To Do With Asthma?

Daily Health Tips: All About Asthma.


So, get a doctor to prescribe drugs to tide you over (you should be able to pick up the prescription over the counter thereafter) and work with you to identify allergens and then you have to avoid them.

All the best 🙂

Have a good night, people 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Could My Child Have Contacted Mumps From My Neighbour’s Son?

Posted on November 18, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good day Doc. How are you and your family? Please, my 17 months old daughter has mumps. I just saw it this morning. She’s been going for her immunizations. The next one is when she’s 18 month old, that’s by December. My neighbor’s son had it about 3 weeks back, so I’m wondering if that’s where she caught it from him because they are friends and always play together. Please what do I do??? Thanks.

A: Mumps is a viral disease caused by the mumps virus and is contagious. It is most contagious two days before the onset of symptoms and 6 days after the symptoms disappear. It can be spread through droplets like when an infected person sneezes, coughs or even through sharing cups etc.
The infection manifests as swelling of the parotid (salivary) gland on one or both sides of the face (between the jaw and the ear), pain when swallowing, chewing, talking or taking acidic drinks like orange juice, fever, headache etc

In adolescent males, this infection may lead to inflammation of the testicles. Other organs that may be involved include pancreas, ovaries, brain and breasts. Children would usually recover from this infection in about 10 to 12 days. Don’t be tempted to give antibiotics. It’s not a bacterial infection…it’s viral and so, antibiotics won’t work.

What to do? First be sure that we are dealing with mumps. Let the paediatrician confirm a diagnosis. If that’s what it is, only supportive treatment is needed. This entails using drugs like Acetaminophen (Paractemol) to take care of the pain and the fever, avoiding acidic drinks like orange juice, serving meals that are soft and do not require a lot of chewing, using warm or cold compresses on the areas of swelling. Drinking lots of fluids, water especially is a great idea.

If fever increases, child develops stiff neck, convulses or develops abdominal pain, please get to the hospital immediately.

Prevention is by taking the vaccine (first does is given about 12 to 15 months and the second, around 4 to 6 years)and generally staying away from people who have the infection. By the way, the infection also confers lifelong immunity and so the person who has had mumps will not suffer from it again.

Have a good night, y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: Cyesis, Swollen Legs, Shark Teeth Et Al

Posted on November 17, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Good day, ma’am. Please what is early cyesis in pregnancy?
A: Cyesis is medical lingo for pregnancy. So, early cyesis is Early Pregnancy 😀

Q: Dr please, what are the causes of swollen legs, prevention and what can one do if one notices it?
A: The causes of swollen legs are many and diverse ranging from liver and kidney diseases to pregnancy. Prevention is focused on the cause. For more on swollen legs, please click on this link:https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/10/13/daily-health-tips-foot-swelling/

Q: Please Dr, I need your help. My little daughter of about 5yrs just started bringing out another tooth from the front gum apart from the normal teeth. Please is there any drug I can administer to stop that tooth from coming out? Thank you.
Children start losing their baby teeth from 5 to 7 years, but some could start the process earlier and some later 😀 In some cases, as appears to be happening here, the baby teeth have not gone before the permanent teeth come out. Oftentimes, these permanent teeth would grow in behind the temporary teeth (shark teeth). What’s the solution? The temporary teeth may eventually fall out on their own (as happened in my son’s and daughter’s case) or may need to be extracted by the dentist if they ‘refuse’ to fall off. So, there are no drugs for this 😀 Indeed, you don’t want to stop that tooth from growing…it is one of the permanent teeth which your baby needs. Remember that your baby should visit the dentist at least twice a year…it is never too early to start 😀

Q: Good morning Doc, please I lost a pregnancy in July due to pre-eclampsia and now I’m pregnant again. What should be my dos and don’ts to avoid it from re-occuring?
A: Commiserations on the loss of your pregnancy. You’ll be fine 🙂 Hugs
Pre-eclampsia is a condition in which a pregnant woman is hypertensive with leakage of protein into the urine. There isn’t much evidence for a lot of the recommendations for pre-eclampsia prevention. So, be sure to start antenatal care on time and keep to your appointments religiously. For more on pre-eclampsia, please click on the link below:

Daily Health Tips: Salt Water Solution For Contraception In A Hypertensive etc

Q: Good morning ma’am, please what can somebody with big tummy eat in other to have a flat tummy?

Flat tummy is a combination of diet, exercise and stress control. For more on this topic, please click on the links below:

Daily Health Tips: Can I Inherit A Big Tummy From My Parents?

Daily Health Tip: The trio of Diet, Exercise and Stress


Have a good night. Y’all 😀

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Daily Health Tips: When Should I Start Brushing My Baby’s Teeth And Potty Training?

Posted on November 16, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Q: Well done Dr. May the good Lord reward you. Please, when can I start brushing my baby’s teeth? Please, tell me the right toothpaste to use. Secondly, when can I start potty training? Let me know when you post it. Thanks

A: Taking care of your baby’s mouth/teeth starts from birth. Yes…even before the teeth actually erupt. Be sure to clean your baby’s mouth with a clean, wet flannel wrapped around your finger at least twice a day. As soon as the first tooth erupts, teeth brushing starts in earnest. Brush your baby’s teeth (yes…even if they are only two) with a tiny amount of a tooth paste that does not have fluoride. The reason for this is that swallowing excessive amounts of fluoride can lead to disease conditions in children including the development of whitish patches on teeth. The use of non-fluoride tooth paste should continue until your baby learns how to spit out, at which time you can now switch to a fluoride paste.

For more on this, please click on the links below:

Daily Health Tips: Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Daily Health Tips: Is It Bad To Let My 2-Year Old Son Swallow His Toothpaste?

When to start potty training? Well, usually between the ages of 18 and 30 months, a child shows some signs that he/she is ready for the next big step…potty training. Here are some of the signs to look out for:
• They can remove clothing, talk, climb etc
• They are usually aware of having soiled their diapers
• They have bowel movements at about the same everyday
• They no longer have bowel movements (poop) at night
• The gap between wet diapers is about 2 hours.
• They know when they are urinating
• They can tell you when they need to urinate

This process would usually take an average of 3 months. However, your child needs to feel ready, otherwise it will be a battle of wills…and trust me, you won’t win! Remember the one who has to clean up all the ‘accidents’? 😀 So, look out for the signs of readiness and remember that if a child is emotionally destabilized, he/she may relapse to pre-potty training ways. Patience is key. If you decide your baby is not ready yet and suspend temporarily, be sure to re-introduce as you observe the signs noted above.

Today is World Kindness Day. I hope you showed kindness to someone…someone who completely was not expecting it? If you didn’t, you’ve got a whole week ahead to do just that!

Have a fabulous week, people 😀

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Saturdqy Challenge: Stand A Chance To Win N2000 Airtime.

Posted on November 15, 2014 by chatwithdrketch

Saturday Challenge

This challenge is not about right or wrong. It’s about the most compelling answer ☺

For a chance to win N2000 airtime, please answer the question below:

What is the most important advice you would give a pregnant woman given what you know now of healthy living? Mention 3 and rank them in order of priority.

Terms and conditions
You have to be a fan of this page to qualify. If you’re not, you have to like this page to qualify.

The most compelling story wins this challenge

Edited answers will be disqualified.

This challenge ends on Tuesday, 18th November, 2014.

Winners from 2 weeks ago will be announced tomorrow.

Have a great night, y’all 🙂

So, go for it. Let’s hear your stories, y’all 😀

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