Retail therapies
across to large blobs the size of the palm of your hand.
It is caused by release of the chemical histamine into the skin, which can be triggered by a variety of things.
Though food is often blamed, a change in temperature and maybe more importantly stress can be the trigger, though often it is impossible to pinpoint the cause.
Many young people have found the social isolation of home working and no social life, other than via a computer, difficult, and it may be this that is causing her skin to erupt.
Antihistamine medicines such as cetirizine or loratadine can be very helpful and it’s important to try to resist scratching, as this usually just triggers yet more histamine release and makes the rash worse.
If the attacks persist, she should be able to register as a temporary patient at your local surgery as some allergy blood tests may be helpful.
QFOR at least the past six months I’ve had a lot of indigestion, bloating and stomach pain. Earlier in the spring I didn’t want to bother my GP with it but in the last few weeks I’ve had a stool test and a week’s course of a mix of antibiotics and antacid medication.
That finished a couple of weeks ago and though my symptoms have improved my stomach still feels sore. Could I have an ulcer and, if so, what can be done about it?
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I SUSPECT you have been diagnosed and treated for infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, usually known as H. Pylori for short.This interferes with the natural protective mucus barrier inside the stomach, which means the lining is more susceptible to attack from the strong acid produced inside the stomach.
It’s thought about 15 per cent of people in the UK are infected but when this happens isn’t known and many have no symptoms. But it can cause inflammation of the stomach lining and three in 20 people with it develop a stomach ulcer.
The infection is diagnosed with a stool or breath test and treatment is with a combination of two high-dose antibiotics and a drug that reduces acid secretion in the stomach.
After this, the stomach lining can take some time to heal, especially if there is severe inflammation or an ulcer and during this time it can be helpful to continue with acid suppressing treatment.
If your pain continues your GP may refer you for a gastroscopy, where the stomach lining is inspected via a camera passed down the throat but hopefully this won’t be necessary.
If you have a health question for Dr Leonard, email her in confidence at yourhealth@express.co.uk. Dr Leonard regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence or reply to everyone.
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