Ask the Doctor: Why does my hair fall out when I take pills?

Severe headache that is associated with hunger is likely to be of a hereditary type called migraine.

Migraine “half head” though may affect one side of the head, and in some people, may affect both sides with one having symptoms like sight problems, nausea and vomiting.

A typical migraine may frequently start with changes in mood and feelings of general hunger or particular food cravings. Hunger can result from a stomach empty of food but it can also result from low blood sugar.

When the amount of sugar reaching the brain is low, hunger then comes as a nasty reminder that one needs to eat.

Low sugar reaching the brain can result from taking long to eat or starvation but may also be a side-effect from drugs for diabetes and upon correction by eating or like in your case, taking a sweet or biscuits both the hunger and headache may wane.

Dear doctor, I am allergic to earrings. Last week, I wanted to go for a coil but feared because I was told coils have copper. What can I use for contraception?
Trust Aryakunda

Dear Trust, 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, allergy to one metal does not mean allergy to another. Intra Uterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCDs) 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 IUCD, it requires that it is immediately removed and another method of contraception instituted.

This then makes it necessary to consult with a nearby family planning clinic to suggest the best method of contraception for you instead of self-prescribing a type of family planning.

Dear doctor, Is it normal for my baby’s breasts to swell and look like those of women? Even more strange, is the white fluid coming out of her private parts.
Annete Nakawere

Dear Annete, many babies, boys or girls, may develop swollen breasts days after birth resulting from breast development hormones passed to the baby during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones however, usually stop milk production both in the mother and baby until the baby is born.

Once the baby is born and is no longer exposed to these milk stopping hormones, the resulting milk production (witches milk) will fill and swell the breasts a few days after birth. In the same vein, the baby may develop a discharge or even produce period like blood due to withdrawal of pregnancy hormones.

These events though worry mothers a lot, require no treatment as they clear with time.

That said, massaging the breasts may risk the breast milk continuing longer with a likelihood of infection (breast abscess). Unless the discharge persists, nothing apart from cleaning with cotton wool dipped in dilute salt solution should be done.