DR ELLIE CANNON: Could my eye disease jabs be the reason for frequent dizziness? trends now
I have macular eye disease, and the treatment involves injections into my eyes. I also get dizzy spells which result in me falling, and sometimes I get very sick, too. My GP prescribes all types of pills but they don’t help. Could my problem be something to do with the injections? I am 83.
It's not unusual for patients who get dizzy to have regular falls.
Doctors refer to such events as ‘drop attacks’, and they require investigation at any age. But falling is particularly concerning for the elderly because it is a major cause of disability, hospitalisation and fractures.
A discussion with a GP or eye specialist would be crucial to see if there are alternative medicines and to establish what are the risks of stopping medication altogether.
When dizziness or an attack of vertigo accompanies vomiting, the problem may be the inner ear disorder Meniere’s disease. There may be other symptoms, such as changes in hearing, tinnitus and even a feeling of blocked ears. With Meniere’s, dizzy spells usually last about three hours. However, it can take a couple of days for the symptoms to resolve completely. There is no specific test for Meniere’s disease, and unfortunately there is no cure, either. Instead, patients are given tablets to control the dizziness and vomiting, while antihistamines can be used to reduce the feeling of vertigo.
Today's reader has macular eye disease and wonders whether their frequent dizzy spells is as a result of the treatment
Meniere’s is a tricky condition to live with and it can have a debilitating impact on a person’s quality of life. Support is available from the Meniere’s Society on 01306 876883 or via its website, menieres.org.uk.
I am 77 and have a terrible problem when I get bitten by mosquitoes. Wherever I am on holiday, the bites tend to spread all the way along my arms and legs, and I end up needing steroid injections to calm the itching and swelling. I take the antihistamine loratadine daily and try to use mosquito repellent most days while away. I want to do more travelling but I now feel as though I can’t. Can you help?
Some people suffer very badly with mosquito bites, and many of factors play into how much anyone is affected, including skin type, previous reactions and genetics. The easiest way to tackle this problem is to avoid getting bitten in the first place.
First, cover yourself up with sleeves, socks and trousers – early evening is a key time to do this. Also, avoid using fragrances such as perfume and scented toiletries as these attract insects. In tropical countries, insect nets are a good idea to avoiding being bitten at night. You should also take anti-malarial tablets in countries where this is advised.
Wherever you are, insect repellent containing 50 per cent of the active ingredient DEET is the most effective.
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