DR. ELLIE CANNON: Is itchy skin the legacy of my bout of Lyme disease?

I have had an itchy rash for two months. I was prescribed antihistamine creams and pills, but none helped. A few years ago I took a course of antibiotics to treat Lyme disease. Do you think this could have caused the problem?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans through infected tick bites. The condition can cause long-lasting symptoms, but this usually only happens if the infection is not treated early enough.

Symptoms include joint pain, numbness, memory problems and even heart problems, but usually not a rash. One can develop after a patient is bitten, but it usually clears up within a month or two.

Lyme disease is often compared to chronic fatigue syndrome because both affect the immune system and lead to similar problems. Itchy rash is one of the most common ailments I come across in all age groups.

In most cases, GPs and sometimes pharmacists can make a diagnosis simply by looking at the pattern of the rash.

For example, with eczema and dermatitis, the skin looks very dry and cracked. But with urticaria or hives, the skin is patchy and swollen.

Antihistamines are used to control itching, but are unlikely to solve the problem unless the rash is related to an allergy.

The most effective treatment depends on the cause of the problem. Medicated moisturizers soothe the skin, steroids reduce inflammation, and there are specific creams for conditions like psoriasis or eczema. Sometimes an itchy rash is just a patch of extremely dry skin.

If it’s not clear what’s going on, the doctor may try treatment, such as B. a steroid cream with emollients to see if that helps. This is often how a doctor diagnoses a skin problem.

But if the rash doesn’t go away — even with treatment — the family doctor can easily refer patients to a dermatologist. We simply take a special medical photo of the area and send it to our colleagues.

About 15 years ago I was in a car accident and was hit in the head. Since then I have suffered from dizziness or severe dizziness. They have lessened a bit over the years, but I still get them at night. Is there a solution to the problem – or an obvious trigger?

It is not uncommon for head injuries to cause problems for years. Sometimes they last most of one’s life.

A head injury from a car accident is what doctors call a traumatic brain injury, which includes any blow to the head.

This is especially true in a car as the vehicle will suddenly stop causing the head to move suddenly and possibly affect some of the nerves in the brain. It can also lead to greater damage known as diffuse brain injury. Long-term effects depend on the brain region affected.

Dizziness makes you feel like twisting or turning, even when you’re not moving. There are many possible causes, including a concussion that has affected the inner ear. Doctors can examine dizziness using tests that involve maneuvers to produce sensations. Depending on how problematic the problem is, medication may be offered.

If attacks usually occur at night when there is no risk of falling, pills may not be necessary. Medications include anti-nausea tablets and antihistamines.

The Headway charity has good information about brain injuries on their website headway.org.uk.

My eyes have been permanently sore and painful for several years and no treatment seems to work. I have trouble reading or doing anything that requires my eyes to focus for more than a few minutes. Is there a solution?

Problems with dry, tired eyes can of course have a negative impact on one’s quality of life. If patients have tried many treatments without success, they should be referred to an ophthalmologist.

The current wait can be long, but it’s worth it. In dry eye syndrome, the surface of the eye becomes inflamed and the tears produced do not adequately lubricate the area. Sometimes the problem is caused by an underlying cause.

This could be an allergy, vitamin A deficiency or side effects of medications such as beta blockers, some psychiatric drugs and bladder control pills. Finding the cause often leads to the solution.

Many diseases are also associated with dry eye syndrome.

Examples are autoimmune diseases, thyroid diseases, Parkinson’s disease and rosacea.

Non-drug treatments are important, such as B. avoiding contact lenses. Using a humidifier can help, as can not using an air conditioner.

When reading or using a computer, try to look down as your eyes are less open and therefore less likely to dry out.

There are a number of artificial tear drops and eye lubricants. If one type of drop has not worked after a month, you should be offered another type, such as one with sodium hyaluronate.

Patients should then be referred to an ophthalmologist after three months if they have not responded to treatment.

Always painkillers? This could be a warning sign

Tracking women’s shopping habits by analyzing loyalty card data could help detect ovarian cancer months earlier.

This was the surprising finding of a study from Imperial College London, which could give women a much better chance of being successfully treated and surviving this disease.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer in the early stages can be vague, such as heartburn, bloating and abdominal pain, so diagnosis is often made in the late stages when it is much more difficult to treat. But Imperial’s analysis of loyalty cards from women suffering from ovarian cancer found they bought painkillers and digestive drugs for up to eight months before they realized something was seriously wrong and went to see a doctor.

I would be happy to provide my boat chart details if they were used to indicate serious problems, but a timeline like this is a long way off. In the meantime, it’s important that women don’t just keep fighting. It is not normal to be uncomfortable or in pain for weeks or months and no one should dismiss it.

Tracking women’s shopping habits by analyzing loyalty card data could help detect ovarian cancer months earlier, a new study has found

Is your 111 emergency call center closed?

I worry about patients having to travel miles for simple help with things like nasty cuts or germs.

If a patient has a problem that is too urgent to wait for a doctor’s appointment, but not necessarily serious enough to go to the emergency room, they will likely be referred by 911 to what is called an emergency treatment center .

These clinics are run by general practitioners to alleviate emergency care. But I hear a lot of people have to drive quite a bit to find one that is open. And when they get there, they have to queue for hours. Apparently it has to do with staff shortages, but I’m curious how many of you are affected.

Having trouble finding an emergency center near you? Write to the email address and tell me.