In most situations three days of antibiotics is insufficient. Remember absence of symptoms is not the same as absence of disease and short courses of antibiotics may actually confer resistance to antibiotics for further use. A specialist will guide you on rationale choices, use and duration of treatment besides giving you a complete holistic picture.

You should know if in the areas that you are travelling there is a higher likelihood of infections. Some areas around the world require prophylaxis, others require vaccinations, besides other precautions.

Some forms of Hepatitis such as Hepatitis E have an increased risk of complications in pregnancy. Other forms of hepatitis are managed based on risk and benefit to mother and foetus.

Yes it is, though the period of maximal infectivity is maximally before the appearance of fluid filled areas called vesicles, at the peak of the infection the condition is highly communicable.

Chest infections usually follow patterns in people who have structural lung disease, environmental triggers, age besides other factors. Such patients benefit from a vaccination strategy against common pathogens besides a pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

Tuberculosis is communicable when there are cavities in the lungs shedding the bacteria – such patients can infect several others in their surroundings. They can be isolated for the duration of bacterial shedding which is usually fourteen days after commencing treatment. Caution is advised while deciding on home quarantine.

TORCH is an acronym for several infections that affect the pregnant mother. Some of these can be treated with medications while others have the potential for complications. The plan for treatment is usually a balance between risk and benefit to both mother and child.

It is potentially serious since spinal infections require prolonged treatment with antibiotics and with resistant organisms the risk of complications climbs. Both issues, that is the urinary infection and the spinal infection need separate strategy depending upon individual risk factors.

You are probably in a state called Chronic malaria which can happen with partial treatment or drug resistance. Both have long term treatment implications but can be managed successfully.

With current treatment options HIV is like any other lifestyle disease such as diabetes or hypertension. Most patients have a good quality of life provided they adhere to treatment.

Yes indeed. The potential for complications exists which is why it is important to seek medical help at the early stages of illness from your doctor or the nearest hospital.

Dr. Om Shrivastav