ASK THE DOCTOR

QI am 68 and have just received good news from a complete physical check, with blood and urine tests. Why then am I starting to dribble out the left side of my mouth? C.G. This is a symptom you need to report to your GP as it suggests loss of control of the muscles around your mouth. It could be Bell’s palsy or a sign of a minor stroke or other neurological problem. Don’t ignore it.

QAre growing pains real? My daughter frequently says her legs are too tired to walk. S.B. Growing pains do occur in children who are growing, but the cause remains a mystery in many cases. Your daughter needs to have a medical check for her tired legs. Many children with leg pains have biomechanical problems and assessment by a podiatrist for orthotics to adjust her foot position may help.

QOne of my nostrils is dry and crusty inside. When I blow my nose, what comes out is black and sometimes bloody. How can I get rid of this? B.J.

You need to ask your doctor to check. You can get scabbing in your nostril from trauma (nose picking) or from a staph infection. Rarely, a cancerous lesion in the nose can present as crusting and bleeding. Ask your doctor to have a look.

QA colleague got toenail fungus from a pedicure and it’s been difficult to get rid of. How do I avoid it? S.S.

If you have a medical reason for needing foot care, such as diabetes or poor circulation, you should see a podiatrist. Your GP can refer you. If you go for a pedicure, ask about their hygiene procedures. Make sure the technicians clean the bowls with disinfectant and that they use freshly sterilised instruments. Report any sign of infection around your toenails to your GP as soon as possible.

QI would like to quit smoking and going cold turkey never works. What do you think about vaping? A.B. Vaping is a way of increasing the success rate of quitting smoking. Unfortunately there have been recent reports in the US of a severe lung disease associated with vaping in more than 500 people, and there have been deaths. Until the cause of this new condition is studied further, I would advise you to speak to your GP about other options including counselling and nicotine replacement.

QAfter many years of being mouth ulcerfree, I’ve had a new bout. I used to think of them as a sign of being run down. I don’t feel run down now, so why the ulcers? S.N.

There are many causes of mouth ulcers. Simple recurrent mouth ulcers, known as aphthous ulcers, can be triggered by iron deficiency, low white cell count, folate or vitamin B12 deficiency or local trauma. You can help prevent recurrence by avoiding salty foods, alcohol and hard foods.