THE DOC REPLIES

I have very bad breath – and it seems no amount of brushing my teeth or mouthwash helps. Could I have a problem in my nasal passage?

There are a variety of causes of bad breath or halitosis. It can be related to dental, gum, gullet and catarrh problems. Good dental hygiene is important and a check-up with your dentist might be useful. If you have chronic catarrh then this could affect the taste and smell in your mouth. Sometimes nasal sprays with a little steroid in them can help to dry up the secretions. If you have gullet symptoms such as food sticking in the throat this would also cause a problem. Speak to your doctor. How long after my period stops is it safe to cease using a contraceptive?

Generally the guideline is if you are over 50 and you have no period for one year, then you are no longer fertile or in other words your eggs in your ovaries have run out. If you are under the age of 50, then we usually recommend two years without a period before we can be sure that you are no longer fertile. Can I catch shingles from my partner? He developed sores on his neck.

In general, shingles is not contagious between healthy people. Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus and we usually get this in childhood. The virus lives within the nerve endings and can come out in the distribution of a nerve at any time in life. It tends to come in older age but it can be anytime. It usually gives a band of rash with pain anywhere on the body. One feels unwell and tired when it happens. Shingles is not a risk to other people although it is recommended you stay away from people who are very elderly or ill, especially those on cancer treatment because their risks are slightly different. You mention the sores on his neck. Even those at high risk are only at risk when the lesions are wet and exposed. Thereafter, there is absolutely no risk. I was combing head lice from my daughter’s hair and one fell on the carpet. Could it live there and jump on to someone else?

Like all living creatures, head lice will live for a short time without their host. However, that life expectancy is very short. The skin inside my nose has become incredibly dry. I use Vaseline but it isn’t helping much. Am I perhaps allergic to something?

I don’t think dryness is usually a symptom of allergy. In fact it’s probably the opposite. Typically, with allergies, we produce excessive secretions and tend to sneeze and have a runny nose. I think your suggestion of using Vaseline is sensible and safe. If this is

You don’t give me a lot of details about the injury. It would be useful to know how severe it was and if you were unconscious. Concussion is quite common after moderate head injury. The brain, which is relatively soft, gets shaken, bruised and swollen. The result is that one feels a bit sickly, headachy and unwell, sometimes for two or three weeks after a head injury. It is unusual to have pain two months after an injury. While I think it is extremely unlikely there is anything worrying going on, I’d recommend you speak to your doctor.