ASKING THE DOCTOR

Feb 27, 2007

<b>I have no sense of smell</b><br>Dear Doctor,<br>I have no sense of smell; even if the food is burning, I cannot smell it. I have had this problem since I was born. Also, whenever I bathe, my body itches. What can I do?<br>Josephine

I have no sense of smell
Dear Doctor,
I have no sense of smell; even if the food is burning, I cannot smell it. I have had this problem since I was born. Also, whenever I bathe, my body itches. What can I do?
Josephine

Dear Josephine,
Some people are born lacking the sense of smell. It may be a problem in the nose, or the nerves or the part of the brain concerned with smell. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to solve it.
Itching after bathing is also a fairly common problem. It is called the water induced itch. The actual cause is unknown. It starts in the early teens and lasts for years. It can be quite distressing.

We do not as yet have a cure for it, though measures like decreasing your exposure to the sun and activities that make you sweat, bathing early in the morning rather than late evenings and also limiting the time you take bathing may help. Your doctor may recommend some drugs.

My sores can’t heal
Dear Doctor,
I got small sores at the end of my tongue and later, I started getting wounds that look like patches, but they have failed to cure. They are on and off. What is the problem?
Grace

Dear Grace,
Ulcers or sores of the mouth are very common. They have many causes including bites or injuries from teeth, badly fitted dentures (false teeth), infections and vitamin deficiencies. They usually heal very quickly, but some types recur.
Apthous sores are a type of mouth ulcers that are recurrent, however, the cause is not known. There may be one or more ulcers, very painful and come especially when one is stressed. A virus similar to the one that causes genital herpes causes herpes ulcers. They start like blisters, which become sores and then heal. They are also on and off.
Mouth ulcers usually heal within a few days. You can use painkillers like paracetamol and mouthwash to speed up the healing and control pain. See a doctor if they last more than a week or are associated with other problems.

I do not get satisfied

Dear Doctor,
Most times when I have sex with my girlfriend, I do not finish even when I take an hour. She gets satisfied long before me and asks me to stop. Is this normal?
- Robson

Dear Robson,
Finishing during sex has two major components, which are usually together. There is the ejaculation and orgasm (climax), which is an intense feeling of pleasure.

One may have a failure of one or both. This condition is rare in men. Its most common cause is as a side effect of some drugs (like anti-depressants).

Some diseases like diabetes may also cause it. Other causes include sexual inexperience, anxiety and psychological problems. An imbalance of hormones may also be causing it.

Good communication with your partner may help solve the problem. Discussing what you want and not want, can put you at ease and relax you enough to finish. You can also consult a doctor about this condition. The doctor can counsel you as well as rule out any physical problems.

Dr Paul Semugoma
semugoma@hotmail.com


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