Cellulitis

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “My legs have been very red and painful for several months and my local pharmacist tells me that I have ‘cellulitis’. What is cellulitis?” When you are well, you have several barriers to stop the ‘outside world’ getting...

Cerebral Palsy

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “My husband recently had a stroke that left him unable to speak properly. I always thought that having a stroke meant you were paralysed. Was I wrong?” Cerebral palsy occurs in about 1 in 500 people in the UK. It is not a...

Charles Bell – Bell’s Palsy

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “I cannot move the right side of my face. My GP tells me that I have a ‘Bell’s palsy’. What is this?” Charles Bell (1774-1842) first described this condition in the early 1800’s. He was a renowned artist and surgeon, famed for...

Changing Blood Glucose Meters

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “My surgery has recently changed my blood glucose meter. Why was this when I was happy with my old one?” The honest answer is cost. In England between 2005 and 2011, the number of people with diabetes rose from 3.6% to 4.3% of...

Childhood Obesity

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “My sister’s children are very overweight. Every time I try and broach the subject with her she gets very defensive and says they are ‘healthy’. I am concerned for the children. What can I do to help them?” You are correct to be...