Traditional Herbs

ls there any effect to Take traditional herbs whilst u are on medication 
 
Traditional herbs may contain several substances whose nature and concentration are unknown, unlike allopathic drugs whose chemical compositions and actions are known exactly. There could be unexpected interactions with the allopathic medication you are taking if you consume any other form of medication simultaneously. There could be increase or decrease in action of the allopathic medication, there could be prolonged action, either of the medicines may be removed too quickly from the body, or there could be other unknown interactions. It is preferable _to not_ take any medication without consulting your doctor. You _should always_ inform the doctor about any medication that you are taking so that interactions with any new drugs can be evaluated before prescription.

Cure for the worms that comes out of kids buttocks

 
Intestinal worms is a very common problem in some regions. These worms can cause malnutrition and slow the development of the child. Most worm infestations have simple cures. However, the type of drug given differs according to the kind of worm that is prevalent in your region. Age of the child is also important in deciding the type of drug prescribed. Many regions have national deworming programs where these drugs are available easily. I would advise you to consult a doctor for appropriate treatment.

Pregnancy Sickness

I have to feel like l want to vommit every minute in early pregnancy
 
Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy is the result of rapidly increasing levels of a hormone called HCG. These symptoms usually settle once the level of HCG settles. Some women are more susceptible to the effects of this hormone than others. Twin or multiple pregnancy can also cause greater severity of these symptoms. These symptoms are triggered by certain smells or taste in some women. Avoiding these triggers may help. There are drugs that can be prescribed by your doctor in case your symptoms are severe.

dangers of taking expired ARV

 
All medicines contain a certain quantity of the active ingredient. The expiry date usually signifies that until that date, the drug concentration will be as per the label. In some drugs however, passage of time can cause the formation of toxic products due to degradation. In the case of most drugs, the date of expiry should be considered as a “best before date”. It is not as if immediately after the date of expiry, the drug’s action will be drastically reduced or that it will be dangerous to take it. However, as the type of degradation is not uniform for all types of medication, it is advised that one should not take _any medication_ that is past its expiry date.

The same logic also holds for ARVs. If the drug activity is reduced, the effect on the virus is likely to be reduced. If this reduction in activity is significant, the virus may develop resistance to the drug causing an increase in viral load and over time a reduction in CD4 counts.

Height Issues

I'm 19 and I'm very short and my height is 5 feet 5 inches. How can I grow to 5 or 6 inches more.
 
Height is a feature that is mostly determined by genetics. Nutrition also plays a part, but if you do not have the genes for height it is unlikely that you will grow tall.

By the age of 19, you would have almost achieved your maximum height. The pubertal growth spurts will have completed and the growth centres in the bones will have fused. If you are male, it is possible that you may add another inch or so to your present height but it is unlikely that you will be able to grow another 5-6 inches as you want. Females usually have completed their growth by the age of 19.

Deviated Nasal Septum

I have right nostril closed but left nostril too opened that my small finger up to half went inside it tell me solution tablets and exercise?
 
It is possible that you have a deviated nasal septum. The nasal septum is a structure that separates the right and left nasal passages. This septum is not perfectly straight and may be curved to the right or left. In most individuals, this curvature is slight and does not cause any problems. In some people however, the deviation may be to a high degree and can cause blockage of that nostril. This can cause discomfort and a feeling of stuffiness. You must consult an ENT surgeon to find out if you have this condition and if so how severe it is. The treatment for this condition is surgery to correct the curvature.

Adult Malnutrition

Please I'd like to know if male adults can experience malnutrition.
 
Anybody can suffer from malnutrition. Under-nutrition can occur due to several causes. You may be eating less food than you need, you may not be eating the right type of food, nutrients may not be absorbed in your intestine due to various reasons, you may have an intestinal worm infestation, or you may have a disorder that prevents your body from utilising the nutrients. Adults as well as children can suffer from any of these causes. I must also emphasise that obesity is also a form of malnutrition.

Oily Skin

My skin is always oily and looks older whilst I am young so what should I do 
 
Oily skin occurs due to secretion of sebum by certain glands in the skin. Some individuals secrete more of sebum than others. Sebum has a protective function on the skin. However, hyper secretion of sebum can cause problems other than cosmetic issues. The simplest thing for you to do is to wash your face several times with a mild soap. This will remove the oil that is troubling you. If that does not help you, you should consult a dermatologist. There are several treatment modalities for this problem and an appropriate treatment can be prescribed for you.

Infant HIV

Does HIV detect the first week a child is born
 
The usual tests for HIV detect antibodies to the virus. These antibodies are produced by the immune system to fight the virus. Newborn babies do not have any antibodies of their own. They depend on antibodies that have crossed over from the mother across the placenta when the baby was in the womb. So, if the mother was HIV positive, the baby’s blood will also show a positive result to HIV. However, this is due to the presence of maternal antibodies in the baby’s blood. These antibodies may be present in the baby’s blood for upto 3-4 months after birth. There are other tests that can detect HIV RNA and other viral antigens. These tests are more expensive and are done only when there is a strong suspicion that the baby may have contracted infection before or during birth. You must consult with your doctor for more information.

Twisted Testicle

What causes a twisted testicle
 
Twisted testicle, or torsion of the testicle, occurs when the testis twists around the spermatic cord. This twisting causes compression of the blood vessels to the testis and can cause tissue death. The testis is normally anchored to the scrotum by a ligamentous structure. In some individuals, there may be an anomaly in this anchor, leaving the testis free to move within the scrotum and thereby also twist around the cord. Hidden testis, large testis, and previous trauma to the testis are all risk factors. Testicular torsion usually occurs in newborns, children and around puberty. The common presentation is pain which may be severe, and scrotal swelling and redness. The testis may appear to be higher than normal. Testicular torsion is a medical emergency and requires immediate surgery to relieve the torsion and prevent testicular damage. There is a condition called intermittent testicular torsion where the symptoms are recurrent and may be less severe. Surgery is still advised to prevent tissue death.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?
 
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive tract. It is located at the outlet of the urinary bladder. It secretes certain substances that are important in maintaining the viability of sperm in semen. Non cancerous enlargement of this gland is called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). The cause for this is unknown though there are several theories. High protein diet, metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes mellitus, and abnormality in hormonal balance have all been suggested as possible causes but none have been definitively proven. BPH causes increase in size of the prostate which in turn presses upon the urethra. This can cause symptoms like urgency of urination, frequent urination, delay in passing of urine, weak urinary stream, incomplete passage of urine, urinary incontinence etc. BPH will have to be differentiated from a lot of other conditions by a thorough evaluation. Treatment will depend on the severity of symptoms. There are drugs that can relieve the symptoms in most individuals. If drugs fail, surgery is an option.

After tooth extraction

What to eat after taking out your tooth
 
Upon extraction of a tooth, there is an open wound with a defect in the gum left behind where the tooth was. In case it was a difficult extraction, there might be some bone damage. You should take care not to injure the area further. For the first hour or so after extraction, you should bite hard on the cotton plug that the dentist would have placed on the wound. This will prevent excessive bleeding from the wound and cause a blood clot to form. For the next few hours you must take only cold liquids and preferably on the other side of the mouth. After this, for a couple of days it is best to take a soft diet and not to chew on the side of the extracted tooth. By this time, the wound would have healed and you can gradually get back to your normal diet. If any sutures have been placed, you should remember to go back to your dentist to have them removed. Take any medication as prescribed by the dentist. _Do not self medicate_.

Stinky vaginal discharge

Why is my discharge stinking bad️ 
 
The vagina secretes a fluid almost continuously. This fluid helps to clean the vagina and to maintain the pH balance. This is what is seen as vaginal discharge. This vaginal discharge can have a particular odour normally and this odour changes with the period of menstrual cycle.

There are several reasons why your vaginal discharge may have a bad odour. The commonest cause is a condition called bacterial vaginosis. This is causes due to bacterial overgrowth in the vagina and occurs due to change in the pH. It is also commonly seen in women with multiple sexual partners. Other infections like Trichomoniasis and Candidiasis can also cause smelly discharge. Poor hygiene is an important cause of smelly vaginal discharge. A forgotten tampon in the vagina can produce a smell discharge. In some cases, diet can alter the odour of vaginal discharge and a change in diet can give relief. Cancer of the cervix or uterus can also produce a smelly discharge. You should consult a gynaecologist for examination and appropriate treatment if required.

Pregnant ice chewing

She is pregnant but she is addicted to chewing ice is that healthy for the baby?

Chewing ice is bad for your teeth, but it won't affect the baby. On the other hand, being addicted to chewing ice is occasionally a sign of anemia. Make sure you are eating plenty of foods rich in iron like spinach, beans, and red meat.