chatwithketch

Q: Good evening, Doctor. Please I want to ask a question. Each time I take ferrous, I usually have scratches on my leg. Am I allergic to it or am I taking the fake one. Thanks. Will be waiting for reply

A: Iron supplements are used to prevent anaemia (blood shortage) but just like any drug, people could experience adverse drug reactions. These supplements can cause the colour of stool to become black. Other side effects include heartburn, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting.

Allergy to this drug could show up as rashes, hives (sudden outbreak of swollen, red bumps on the skin), itching, tightness in the chest, trouble with breathing, swelling of the face, mouth, throat, tongue etc

So, you could very well be allergic to the supplement. Please see your doctor and let him know this. He will confirm what exactly the problem is and where necessary…

Thursday 29th October was World Stroke Day. In honor of that day, I repeat the post below:

Q: Good morning, Dr. Ketch. Thank you for helping us out health-wise. I’ll like to ask…as a Nigerian, do you know of any food that is healthy for a recovering stroke and hypertensive patient apart from Semovita and wheat? Thank you, ma’am

A: Stroke as the name implies refers to an incident that happens suddenly…without warning. It usually occurs when the brain is deprived of some of its blood supply and consequently oxygen supply. This can happen when there is a blood clot in a vessel in the brain or due to a burst blood vessel leaking blood onto the substance of the brain or around the brain. This blood leakage can lead to undesired pressure on the brain.

There is really no such thing as a partial stroke. Oftentimes, people refer to…

Q: Thanks doc, this is so helpful but may I ask what causes PCOD and hyperthyroidism, thanks

A: PCOD is an example of a pathological cyst.

What’s a pathological cyst? Let’s start from the beginning…

Ovaries are small bean-shaped organs on either side of your womb. Every month, your ovaries develop sacs called follicles from where eggs are released monthly and female sex hormones produced. After the egg is released every month, the sac disintegrates. But sometimes, the egg is not released and the sac remains or the egg is released and the sac does not disintegrate. This follicle becomes the fluid-filled cyst sac. Usually this is not a problem as it could form during every menstrual cycle and usually resolves on its own. These cysts are called the functional cysts. However, these cysts could get very big and in some instances become twisted or they could rupture causing problems…

Q: Good morning ma’am! Please I need your help. My 18 months old baby has been having boils for the past 3 weeks. I have given him Augumentin for children on doctor’s prescription. But the boils are still coming out. Recently i noticed he urinates too much. What should I do?

A: A boil, also called a skin abscess, is an infection of a hair follicle deep in the skin. Boils can occur in any part of the body, but most frequently in the armpits, groin, around the vagina/anus areas, around a tooth and at the back. They are often swollen, painful, and after a few days collect as a head of pus and debris (this explains what you noticed) which can rupture on their own when soft or ‘ripe’ or may require a health expert to cut it open and drain it (if it’s quite large).

Boils in the…

Q: Hello doc, pls how can one avoid protein in urine during pregnancy?

A: A high blood pressure reading in pregnancy with protein in urine is a worrying situation. Blood pressure readings are interpreted as same, pregnancy or no pregnancy. Any level more than 140/90mmHg is seen as hypertensive. A woman may already be hypertensive before pregnancy and on medication. She may be found to be hypertensive before 20th week of pregnancy in which case it is believed she had previously undetected high blood pressure or she may be discovered to have high blood pressure after the 20th week, in which case it is believed that this high blood pressure is pregnancy-induced (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension: PIH). This would usually resolve within 6 weeks of having a baby. If a woman with PIH goes on to develop protein in urine, she is at risk of preeclampsia (in which protein leaks from…

Q: Hello Doctor. I just put to birth, one month plus now and I am having heavy menstrual flow with clots. A scan had been done but no retained products of conception were found; the uterus is clear. Please what should be done?

A: Bleeding after having a baby is normal. When the placenta separates from the wall of the womb, the open blood vessels start to bleed. And so for the first couple of days there is bleeding composed of blood, bacteria and tissue from the area of separation. In the first few days, the discharge is made up of more blood making it bright red in colour which changes to pinkish and eventually yellowish/whitish as the uterus contracts and seals up open blood vessels. This process is supposed to be over within 2 to 4 weeks. Some may extend to about 6 weeks!

Heavy bleeding that occurs within…

We can’t let the month of October pass by without celebrating the fact that the month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer is abnormal growth of the cells of the breast. Though it is more common in women, it can also occur in men. It is important to examine your breast regularly and note if there are changes. Some changes that may signify cancer, to look out for include:
• A lump or thickening of breast tissue that feels different from surrounding breast tissue
• A lump in one or both armpits
• Change in the skin of the breast eg giving the appearance of orange peel/skin of an orange
• Change in the shape, size or general appearance of the breast
• Nipple discharge (especially if it’s bloody) or recent inversion of the nipple
• Scaly skin around the nipple

Breast cancer may be inherited and so having…

Q:Please I have a question pertaining to cough and catarrh syrup and all that. You made us understand that when a child is given such medication, it depresses the respiratory track or something like that. Please from what age can someone start taking such medication for cough and catarrh? Thank you Ma, awaiting your response. God bless you

A: As a parent, it’s very normal for you to feel worried when your baby is ill especially when it appears you’re helpless and really can’t do anything to help him/her. However, when your baby has a cough, giving cough syrups may not be the way to go…and I’ll tell you why.
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…