Q:What is the meaning of the cryptic letters on prescriptions like ODD and BD?

 

A:A/D means alternate days. OD means once a day. BD means twice a day. TDS means three times a day. QID means four times a day. Q12H means once every 12 hours, Q8H means every eight hours, Q6H means every six hours, Q4H means every four hours and Q2H means every two hours.

Warrior diet

Q: A lot of people are following the warrior diet to lose weight. I would like to do so but am not sure how.

 

A:The warrior diet is supposed to be based on the body's natural primitive food rhythm. Basically, it means eating very light, healthy snacks during the day composed mainly of fresh vegetables and fruits. The main meal is eaten at night. Thirst is the guide. When you feel thirsty you need to stop eating the main meal. About 3-4 sessions of aerobic exercises and weight training are combined with this. It does not cause any harm to the digestive system. Many people appear to have lost weight and developed toned bodies on this regimen.

Laser treatment

Q:I want to remove the hair on my face with laser treatment. There are several beauty parlours in my area offering treatments. The rates vary so widely that I am at a loss.

 

A:Go to a dermatologist. Approach your problem in a scientific manner with investigations to determine if the hair growth is due to correctable hormonal imbalances. They will check a small hairy patch on your body first to see if you react adversely to the laser or develop keloids. The procedure will also be scientifically and safely done.

Touch therapy

Q: My father has an enlarged prostrate gland, but it was not cancer. He was put on medication but after a year he stopped taking the tablets and switched to "touch therapy." He pays a "specialist" to come and press various parts of his body. Now he dribbles urine on to his underclothes and smells all the time!

 

A:The tablets were prescribed to shrink the prostrate and prevent it from becoming bigger. It may have grown without medication. Since it is at the outflow tract of the bladder, the obstruction to the free flow of urine may have caused the bladder to develop "overflow incontinence." Consult your physician/urologist. If this is the case, he may need to be put on the tablets again or if the prostrate is too big, he may require surgery.

 

Itchy sensation

Q: I have an itchy discloured area around my waist where I tie my sari and salwar. The skin has actually peeled off from some of the areas, leaving it raw.

 

A:You may be tying the drawstring too tight, causing constant friction and irritation. Avoid saris and underskirts for some time. Wear elastic leggings instead of salwars under the kameez till this heals.

 

Ectopic pregnancy

Q: I am pregnant and I had some blood stained white discharge. I was told that this was because the baby is growing in the tubes. I was asked to undergo a surgery to remove the tube. I have not done so.

 

A:The baby can get stuck in one of the two fallopian tubes. As the tubes are small, the baby does not get enough blood to nourish it and it dies. The danger is that it as it grows it can cause the tube to "burst," a dangerous and life-threatening occurrence. An ultrasound scan usually reveals the position of the baby, whether it is safely in the uterus or growing in one of the tubes. If it is in the tube you do need to have surgery.

 

Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in