THE DOC REPLIES

A FRIEND who is due to visit me soon had scabies recently. Is it safe? I don’t want to be rude – but I don’t want scabies either!

Yes, there should be no problem with your friend visiting your house, especially if they have had treatment. Scabies is a skin condition caused by tiny mites which burrow into the skin, causing intense itching which is worse at night. To spread, it usually needs close skin-to-skin contact so you wouldn’t be at any increased risk by letting your friend visit.

I REGULARLY take antacids for heartburn. Can I use them over the long term, or are they harmful?

If used regularly they can cause bowel problems like constipation or diarrhoea. It is also important to know why you are having heartburn in the first place. Sometimes it can be caused by a bug called Helicobacter. If so, a course of treatment involving antibiotics and a drug used to treat ulcers can solve the problem. If there are any other more worrying symptoms such as weight loss or difficulty swallowing then you should make an appointment to visit your doctor.

I READ recently that eating chips can cause cancer. Would you recommend your patients avoid chips entirely?

This information is probably related to the recent reports about acrylamide, especially in foods which have been cooked at high temperatures for long periods. There is no real danger in having chips occasionally although they are not the healthiest thing to eat. Every now and again as a treat is fine but eating regularly increases the amount of saturated fat you are taking.

WHAT should I do with leftover antibiotics? Am I safe to throw them in the bin?

When you are prescribed antibiotics it is generally important to finish the course, so in theory you should not have any left over! However, if you do, it is best to take them to your local pharmacist to dispose of.

I RECENTLY discovered my blue asthma inhaler was out of date. I’d been using it for a month. Is this safe? I didn’t suffer any ill effects.

The fact that your inhaler was out of date should not have caused you any harm. However, the ingredients may have been less effective. It is important to make sure that you are supplied with up-to-date medication and that you do not run out just in case you have an asthma attack.

MY grandson is 14 and was diagnosed with mumps, which I didn’t think happened these days. How is this possible?

Mumps is a viral infection and is much less common nowadays since the introduction of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine. However, it is still around. The vaccine offers around 95% protection. Some people have not been vaccinated.

MY left foot has developed a verruca. It has grown so it’s now painful to walk. Will it clear up on its own, or does it need treatment?

If the verruca is causing problems then you should probably have it treated. There are many topical treatments available over the counter which can be applied to the verruca. It is important to pare down the dead skin as this develops during treatment. If it is painful to walk on, using some foam padding around the verruca can help alleviate the pressure.

I fell last month and developed a pain in my left ribcage. Is it possible I’ve cracked a rib?

If you have fallen on to your side then it is possible you’ve broken a rib. This does tend to be extremely painful. It is usually very sore to touch and will often cause you discomfort when you take a deep breath. Rib fractures tend to heal by themselves and don’t need any further treatment other than pain relief.

Unfortunately The Doc can’t directly reply to individual letters. When in doubt speak to your GP