The Doc Replies

Our expert answers your medical questions

What is cystic fibrosis?

It is a serious, incurable genetic disorder that mainly affects the lungs and pancreas and is caused by one particular gene that does not work properly.

It is an autosomal recessive genetic condition, which means you need to have the abnormal gene from both your parents to be affected. Around one in 25 white people in the UK are carriers. If two people with the defective gene have children, each of their offspring has a one in four chance of having cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis affects the way the body’s cells handle salt, causing secretions such as the mucus in the lungs to become too thick. Symptoms result usually in the first year of life and include a persistent cough with a lot of sputum, wheezing and recurrent chest infections. Sufferers cannot digest food properly. In some cases, if the error in the gene is slight, the condition may be mild.

Treatments include antibiotics, enzyme supplements, nebulisers, physiotherapy and exercise. New treatments like gene therapy are beginning to emerge.

My grandson has otitis media, what is it?

Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear that causes a build-up of fluid behind the eardrum. It can flare up on its own or after a cold.

Anyone can get it, but it is more common in infants and in children. Treatment is with painkillers (Ibuprofen), and paracetamol to keep the temperature down. It is important to drink plenty of fluids.

However, antibiotics are generally given to little ones aged two and under, or anyone who has had the condition for more than four days.

Is dermatitis the same as eczema?

Dermatitis is an irritation of the skin. It has many different forms and many causes. It can manifest in atopic eczema that causes patches of skin to be itchy, cracked and sore or seborrheic eczema – like dandruff or cradle cap.

Contact dermatitis is a type of eczema triggered by contact with a particular substance. Treatment depends on the type of dermatitis. Moisturisers and topical steroids (ie applied to the skin) are helpful.