Q I want to know about fistula.

A fistula is an abnormal connection between an organ, vessel, or intestine and another structure. Fistulas are usually the result of injury or surgery. It can also result from infection or inflammation. often occur in the area around the genitals and anus (known as the perineum). It is connection between two body cavities eg. rectum and vagina. The symptom vary with the location of fistula.

Q Could performing only fellatio result in acquiring hiv/aids?

HIV is transmitted when there is an exchange of body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, pore ejaculatory fluids between the infected and non infected person. This is possible during fellatio / oral sex if there is an open wound such as cuts, abrasions in mouth or gums, sore or inflamed throat, abrasion on penis or if the saliva is mixed with blood.

Q I am suffering from knee pain?wht to do?

Knee pain has many causes like any injury, trauma, arthritis, any muscle or ligament tear, age factor, obesity, calcium deficiency etc. To rule out the cause, it is advised to consult the physician, because it may require physical examination. If it is unbearable, then you must take some medicines prescribed by the physician. Along with it, some preventive measures to get relief are - Take complete rest and protect an injured or sore area. When resting, place a small pillow under your knee. You can apply the ice or cold pack for 10 to 20 minutes, 3 or more times a day. Wear the lowest heel possible, because it may give pressure on the knee during walk. Maintain a healthy weight; it is one of the best things you can do for your knees. If the pain is very severe, you may need an surgical intervention depending on the cause and symptoms.

Q How to care for newly erupting teeth in babies?

Unlike the belief that teeth should be cared for after the first birthday, dental care for kids begins much before the eruption of first tooth. Wipe babys gums daily gently using a damp clean cloth to keep it clean and germ-free.n Try brushing your kids teeth as they erupt using plain water. For kids about 2 years of age, brush the teeth using very tiny amount of tooth paste. Teach the kid to spit.n Don~t be shocked to learn that babies do develop tooth decay in absence of good feeding habits. Do not put baby to sleep with a bottle. Milk left for prolonged time on teeth eats away the enamel leading to discolouration and pitting of front teeth and even cavities. Some babies have neonatal tooth. Consult the dentist if you see one.

Q What are the symptoms of HIV and when do they appear?

Most people who are infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs two to six weeks after infection. After this, HIV often causes no symptoms for several years. Its seen that most of people who are infected with HIV experience this illness. The most common symptoms are fever (raised temperature), sore throat, body rash. Other symptoms can include tiredness, joint pain, muscle pain, swollen glands (nodes).

Q What Psychological Factors Contribute to Mental Illness?

The reasons which cause mental illness- Significant interpersonal loss and family instability, such as death of loved one, misfortune, poor relationship with family, domestic partner violence, separation, and divorce, emotional detachment have all been identified as risk factors. Financial stress, unemployment, and a drop in socioeconomic status can also be triggers for mental illness. This is also the case for a range of acute and chronic health problems, such as pain syndromes, or diagnoses of conditions like HIV or cancer. Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to some mental conditions.

Q Can HIV spread from kissing?

In most cases HIV virus is not transmitted through saliva. The saliva of an infected person does contain HIV, but the virus is only present there in very small quantities making it next to impossible for the disease or virus to be passed on to another in that way. For instance in the case of two people kissing, if both partners were to have large open sores in their mouths, or if they had severely damaged or bleeding gums then they might transmit the virus through the act of mouth to mouth kissing.

Q What tips do you have for someone with Social Anxiety?

At first, being social when youre feeling anxious is challenging. As difficult or painful as it may seem initially, dont avoid situations that trigger your symptoms. By regularly facing these kinds of situations, youll continue to build and reinforce your coping skills. The following techniques can help you begin to face situations that make you nervous: Prepare for conversation. For instance, read the newspaper to identify an interesting story you can talk about. 1. Focus on personal qualities you like about yourself. 2. Practice relaxation exercises. 3. Adopt stress management techniques. 4. Set realistic goals. 5. Pay attention to how often the embarrassing situations youre afraid of actually take place. You may notice that the scenarios you fear usually dont come to pass. 6. When embarrassing situations do happen, remind yourself that your feelings will pass, and you can handle them until they do. 7. Develop coping skills- Hang out with people whom with you feel comfortable, Joining a group that offers opportunities to improve communication and public speaking skills, remind yourself that you can get through anxious moments, that your anxiety is short-lived. 8. Take good sleep and healthy diet. Psychiatric counselling and medicine helps to deal with anxiety. Finally positive thinking and building self-confidence is the key to fight against your anxiety. Be confident. All the best.

Q My first marriage broke up because of my snoring, Im in another relationship now and I dont want it to happen again.please guide me for treatment of my snoring habit

It must be quite frustrating when your snoring affect your relationship. But the good news is, snoring can be controlled or eliminated by various devices and lifestyle changes. Snoring sound occur when there is any problem in smooth passage of air through airway. This can happen due to several reasons like more throat and nasal tissue, being fatty or overweight causing more fat at throat, tongue blocking airway while asleep, wrongly adapted sleeping posture, etc. You can seek help of any snoring device that will minimize the sound or your snoring. It will be bit difficult and time consuming to find the best suitable for you as many of such devices in the market are not well proven. You can take help of your physician to find the best one and to find the cause behind your snoring. Also rule out any underlying medical problem making you snore, with your doctors help. We are suggesting here some general guidelines about how you can reduce your problem: 1. Loose those extra pounds if your are overweight. Loosing even little fat can prove helpful in great way to reduce snoring. 2. Exercise regularly. Specially working for abs, arms and legs muscles will increase the tome of muscles in throat and neck, reducing snoring. 3. Quit smoking if you smoke. It will further narrow your air passage making your problem worse. 4. Established well planned sleeping schedule. 5. Elevating your head few inches while sleeping can help keeping airways intact. You can use specially designed pillow that help to prevent snoring. 6. Avoid sleeping on your back. Prefer side way position. 7. You can do several throat exercises to strengthen your throat muscles. 8. If these things does not prove helpful, think of medical treatments like CPAP, oral or dental devices, surgery to clear the airway etc.

Q How to control thyroid in pregnency

Thyroid control will require intake of thyroid medication. Medication will depend upon the type of thyroid disorder such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Hence you should consult your family physician at the earliest as uncontrolled thyroid disease can affect the fetus.