High Fever

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “My 1 year old recently had a very high fever at 39.80C. I gave her paracetamol but that only brought it down a bit. What else could I have done?” Children get viral infections commonly. Before the age of 2 or 3 months...

Hippocratic Oath

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “What is the Hippocratic Oath that doctors are supposed to recite?” “I swear by Apollo the Physician and Asclepius and Hygeia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil...

Hirsutes

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “I have recently noticed hair growing on my chin, and underneath my belly button. It is getting so bad I need to pluck them. What could be the cause of this?” Hirsutism is a symptom defined as ‘male pattern hair growth in...

Housemaids Knee

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “My GP tells me I have ‘Housemaids Knee’ – what is this?” Joints are very complex. To help them to bend, and to allow the structure in the joints to smoothly slide over each other, they need lubrication.  This lubricant is...

Hypercalcaemia

EDP column by Professor Ketan Dhatariya “My doctor did a blood test on me because I felt tired. They tell me I have a high calcium level. What is this?” Calcium is an important mineral in the body that helps to control movement. It is involved when muscles move...