THE DOC REPLIES

MY daughter bites her nails incessantly. She’s only eight. Might she damage her fingers in the long term if she continues to do this?

It’s not an especially nice habit but it is unlikely to cause any long term problems.

MY husband developed kidney stones and had them removed last year. He likes a lot of salt on his food and I wondered if this was linked?

Kidney stones usually contain calcium as their main component. Having said that it is unlikely to be related to dietary intake in many – if any – patients. There are some rare medical conditions that can predispose you to forming stones but most people get them by chance.

ONE of the glands in my jaw (under the tongue) gets a little sore and swollen when I eat. What could it be?

We have a variety of glands in the neck. They come from the angle of the jaw, just behind the ear, around and under the chin, down the front of the neck and down the back of the neck. Glands tend to swell in relation to some sort of inflammation or infection nearby. In the case of the ones around the upper part of the neck and under the chin these are often throat or dental problems. If the problem is inside your mouth then it might be an idea to see the dentist. If it is related to the glands in the neck you should see your GP.

I have been plagued by hiccups after every meal for years. Do you know of any medical cure?

Hiccups are a normal phenomenon. They are caused by rhythmical stimulation of the diaphragm, which has spasms. This is due to irritation of the nerve that causes the diaphragm to spasm. They can happen in all people at some time. As with all physiological things they can be more common in some people than others. Rarely, it’s down to a serious illness. Given your problem is long-term and related to meals it is probably normal for you. Perhaps you are eating quickly or swallowing a lot of air. There are medical treatments in severe cases can stop hiccups once they are there, but I am not aware of anything that can stop them coming. If you think it is changing or is a serious inconvenience discuss it with your GP.

I’VE lost a bit of sensation in my face. I’m 70 and am worried it could be Parkinson’s Disease.

Loss of sensation in the face is not a symptom normally characteristic of Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition of a small part of the brain. It is usually characterised by tremor even at rest and by stiffness and poor mobility. In more severe cases it can cause other problems. I do not think your sensation issue is related to Parkinson’s disease. However, if this numbness is new then speak to your doctor.

IS it possible for malaria to re-occur or trouble someone 50 years after contracting it? I got it abroad when I was younger but have now developed some similar symptoms. I’ve not been abroad, though.

It is unlikely if successfully treated that malaria will recur. However, there is a small chance of it recurring. It would not be related to travel if it were recurring in relation to your previous malaria.

IS smoked food like bacon and mackerel a health hazard at all? I eat a lot of it and was wondering if it raises the risk of cancer.

There has been quite a bit written about this recently and as always there is a lot of coverage of healthy diets and healthy foods within the media. There is some suggestion that these very highly processed and salted foods if taken in large quantities may increase the risk of gut problems. As with everything, eat what you like – in moderation.

I’VE developed a small lump in my wrist. It’s largely painless to touch but aches a little when I type.

Depending on where it is it could be a ganglion – a swelling within a tendon sheath. It’s harmless, but can be treated by your GP.