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

I have had an itchy rash for two months now. I have been prescribed antihistamine creams and tablets, but neither has helped. I went on a course of antibiotics a few years ago 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 no rash. One can develop just after a patient is bitten, but it normally resolves within a month or two.

Lyme disease is often compared to chronic fatigue syndrome because both affect the immune system, leading to similar problems. Itchy rashes are one of the most common ailments I encounter in all ages.

More often than not, 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 blotchy and swollen.

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

The most effective treatment depends on the cause of the problem. Medical moisturizers soothe the skin, steroids soothe inflammation, and there are specific creams for conditions such as 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 can try a treatment, such as a steroid cream with emollients, to see if it helps. A doctor often arrives at a diagnosis of a skin problem in this way.

But if the rash does not go away – even with treatment – ​​the GP 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 I was hit on the head. Since then I have suffered from vertigo or severe vertigo. They’ve gotten a little less 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 to come. Sometimes they last most of a person’s life.

Head injury caused by 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 because the vehicle stops suddenly, causing the head to move abruptly, potentially affecting some of the nerves in the brain. It can also lead to wider damage known as diffuse brain injury. Long-term effects depend on the area of ​​the brain affected.

Vertigo makes you feel like you’re spinning or spinning, even when you’re not moving. There are many possible causes, including a concussion that has affected the inner ear. Doctors can investigate vertigo using tests that involve performing maneuvers designed to induce sensation. Depending on how troublesome the problem is, medication may be offered.

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

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

My eyes have been permanently gritty and sore for several years and no treatment seems to be working. I have trouble reading or doing anything that requires concentration of my eyes for more than a few minutes. Are there remedies?

Problems with dry, tired eyes can obviously have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life. When patients have tried many treatments in vain, they should be referred to an ophthalmologist.

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

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

Many diseases are also associated with dry eye syndrome.

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

Non-drug treatments are important, such as avoiding contact lenses. Using a humidifier can help, as can avoiding air conditioning.

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

There is a range of tear replacement drops and eye lubricants. If one type of drop has not worked after a month, you should be offered another type, for example one containing sodium hyaluronate.

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

Always painkillers? It could be a warning sign

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

That was the surprising conclusion of a study from Imperial College London that could give women a much higher chance of successful treatment and survival from this disease.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer in the early stages can be unclear, such as heartburn, bloating, and abdominal pain, so the diagnosis is often made in the late stages, when it is much more difficult to treat. But Imperial’s analysis of loyalty cards of women who developed ovarian cancer found that they bought painkillers and indigestion remedies for up to eight months before realizing something was seriously wrong and seeking medical attention.

I’d be happy to provide my Boots card details if it was used to indicate serious issues, but a schedule like this is a long way off. In the meantime, it’s important that women don’t just keep fighting. Feeling unwell or in pain for weeks or months is not normal and no one should brush it off.

Is your 111 emergency call center closed?

I worry that patients will have to travel miles for simple help with things like nasty cuts or germs.

When a patient has a problem that is too urgent to wait for a doctor’s appointment, but not necessarily serious enough for the emergency room, they will likely be referred to a so-called emergency treatment center via 911.

These clinics are run by general practitioners to relieve emergency care. But from what I hear, many people have to drive some distance to get one that’s open. And when they get there, they have to queue for hours. Apparently it has to do with a lack of staff, but I’m curious how many of you have been affected by this.

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