My three-month-old baby sweats a lot.

My three-month-old baby sweats a lot. He sweats even when he is sleeping or breastfeeding. What can I do?

Anita

Dear Anita,
When the body gets hot, through cooling down (thermoregulatory mechanisms), we produce sweat which on evaporation cools the body. For some people, sweating may be in excess required for normal cooling down and may affect particular areas such as the palms, soles of feet, armpits, face or the whole body.
Some people may be born with the over sweating habit while it may appear later in life for others.

Appearing in babies such as yours or more commonly in adolescent life, the cause of over sweating may not be determined but is thought to be caused by overactive nerves to the sweat glands.

This usually is genetic and more alarming than a threat to health though it may be increased by a simple exercise such as breastfeeding or excitement of getting to breastfeed when a baby is hungry.
While sleeping, we usually sweat to remove excessive heat energy we are not using since the body is at rest.

So, anybody with a sweating problem will sweat more while asleep.
Sweating to cool down may indicate a fever or other health problems and even when it happens in babies it may require investigations first but one need not do anything if a baby is found to be otherwise normal.

I usually engage in oral sex. Now that ulcers are caused by a germ, can they be sexually transmitted?
Santos

Dear Santos,
An ulcer is a wound found in the acidic areas of the alimentary canal such as the stomach, duodenum (outlet to the stomach), lower oesophagus, (inlet to the stomach). They are called peptic ulcers.
While excessive stomach acid can play a role in the development of ulcers, the majority of ulcers are caused by a germ infection (Helicobacter Pylori).
H. pylori bacteria can be passed from person to person through direct contact with saliva, vomit or fecal matter. It can also be spread through contaminated food or water especially in communities that lack clean water or good sewage systems. The infection is usually acquired during childhood but for long remains dormant without causing symptoms.
After H. pylori enters the body, it attacks and damages the lining of the stomach, which usually protects one from the acid used for food digestion and killing germs that come when we eat. The progressive damage after many years leads to wounds (ulcers) which lead to ulcer pain when acid enters them. The wounds after a long time (30-40 years) may turn cancerous.
H.Pylori is not known to be sexually transmitted even if kissing may lead to contact with saliva risking transmission. However, the vaginal canal is usually contaminated with anal bacteria risking Pylori transmission in those uninfected men who carry out unprotected oral sex. Stress may provoke ulcer symptoms if one has H.Pylori infection or if the ulcers exist they may be made worse.

I saw a doctor after unprotected sex and he gave me ARVS. Each time I have sex with a woman I do not trust I take the drugs and I am still HIV negative Will the drugs spoil my organs?
Slt

Dear Slt,
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is short-term antiretroviral treatment to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection after potential exposure, at work (needle injuries in medics) or after unprotected sex with one infected with HIV or whose HIV status is unknown.
Whereas it is proper to take PEP for accidental exposure like after rape, use of PEP the way you are doing risks you getting infection since it is not 100 per cent protective. Other people have been circumcised in a hope that they keep having sex with many sexual partners without getting HIV purportedly because they are protected by circumcision and have ended up getting HIV infection since circumcision is also not 100 per cent protective.
The way you are using PEP apart from getting infection risks turning the germ resistant to drugs. You will also suffer from drug side effects including damaging organs such as the liver.
You need to visit your doctor or an HIV/Aids counsellor as well as avoid having sex with many women whose HIV status you do not know in the hope that the drugs will protect you. Self prescription with prescription drugs including PEP for HIV is very dangerous and should be avoided.

Can I use a coil?
I am allergic to metal rings. Can I use a coil to prevent pregnancy?
Jannie

Dear Jannie,
Allergy to metal in earrings is fairly common leading to swelling, itching and rashes around the area containing the earring.

Though a few people with allergy to one metal may be allergic to others, what is common is that allergy to one metal does not mean allergy to others.

Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices (I.U.C.Ds) contain copper which is a metal that is inert and usually does not cause allergic reactions.
Allergic reactions are very serious and keep increasing with continued or recurrent exposure. If one develops an allergic reaction to an inserted I.U.C.D it requires that it is immediately removed and another method of contraception instituted.