Ask the doctor: Contraceptive loop and flu vaccine

Dear doctor, my child has what’s known as oesophogel reflux. Is it caused because she was suctioned? When will it go away?

It depends on how old the child is. The suctioning might have contributed but we cannot say for sure. Also, weight plays a role.

You will need to make sure the child is on a healthy diet which will reduce risk of acid build up in the stomach. Speak to your doctor.

Dear doctor, is the contraceptive loop uncomfortable? I’ve heard stories of women bleeding because of the positioning.

It depends on the the practitioner who has put it in and the health of the woman. There is a risk of bleeding because a foreign object is inserted. It is a small object so the level of discomfort is really negligible, if not absent.

Speak to your doctor if you are anxious about this before inserting it.

Dear doctor, does the flu injection cause the flu?

No, the flu vaccine does not cause the flu. The vaccine takes about 10 days to give maximum protection. Sometimes people get the flu before the vaccine has become effective.

It can happen that one gets a different strain of flu than the one protected against. Also, some people get mild side effects which may present like flu.

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