Dr Jipson Quah

Dear Reader,As a Western doctor, I do not know of any TCM remedies that can help totreat COVID-19 specifically. However, neither do my TCM practitionerfriends. Some TCM concoctions may help in treating flu and fever symptomsbut I would not recommend them as prevention or treatment measures.

Some ways to entertain yourself during these trying times include: Learning a new hobby Reading Exercise at home Playing an instrument Listening to music Online gaming Cooking Writing a diary Calling your friends on the phone There are many interesting things to do during a lockdown especially in the realm of self-improvement. Very often, we are too busy with our day to day lives.

Certainly not. The typical symptoms of a COVID-19 infection are fever dry cough and runny nose. Anosmia has also been described as a symptom in a significant percentage of patients. However, many people with COVID-19 infections have also turned out to be asymptomatic, with little or no symptoms. Hence in short, you may not have a fever or flu symptoms to have a COVID-19 infection.

Microwaving your food will help to kill bacteria and viruses. If there are coronavirus organisms present on your food packaging, a short microwave session will eliminate most, if not all viruses.

I cannot claim to be knowledgeable about essential oils so I am quite doubtful if they offer any special protection against COVID-19. Some sellers of supplements and essential oils are using coronavirus claims to market their products. One of these claims is that essential oils may have "anti-viral" properties. While this may or may not be true, it does not mean that it protects one from contracting the virus, nor is there evidence that it has any effect on Covid-19. Here you can find a warning letter from the U. S.

Currently, the polyclinic and A&E conduct Covid tests if you fulfil some or all of the following criteria: Symptoms such as cough > 4 days, fever, shortness of breath, etc Significant contact history with someone with Covid Significant travel history to places with high incidence of Covid such as USA, UK, etc. A nurse or doctor will take a swab from the back of your throat or nose using a long cotton bud like stick, and send it to the laboratory for further testing. The turn around time of such tests is usually within 24 hours, and you will be contacted with the results.

Dear Reader,There is no evidence to suggest that going to a sauna frequently canprevent COVID-19. Unless you have a sauna built at home and you are stayingat home at all times. It is a good leisurely activity but not necessarily ameans to prevent disease.

It could very well be, as anosmia appears to be a distinctive symptom of COVID-19 infection. In Germany, it has been reported that 2 in 3 confirmed cases have a loss of sense of smell. In South Korea, approximately 30 percent of cases have anosmia as a symptom. You should consult a doctor immediately and inform him of your symptoms. He will take a detailed history and refer you for further investigations, if required. This is even more crucial if you have previous contact history with a COVID-19 positive patient.

It depends on whether you have travelled anywhere recently or if you have any positive contact history. If your answer is no, you may still visit your GP or the nearest PHPC clinic. The A&E is best reserved for emergency cases, especially in a pandemic.

The government subsidizes COVID-19 testing if referred by a GP or PHPC clinic under suspect case definitions. If it is for casual testing, then one may have to pay for it at the private laboratories. The most widely used COVID-19 test in the hospitals and NCID is the PCR Fortitude test kit which is developed by A*Star. Serology test kits are beginning to emerge in private clinics but they are to be used cautiously as the clinical evidence is not well-established as yet.

I will tell my patients to practise the following measures: Wash hands frequently Practise social distancing, avoid crowded areas Stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out Wear a mask if possible Avoid touching your hands, face and mouth Seek medical attention early if you are feeling unwell You may also use this newly-launched website, sgcovidcheck. gov. sg, to guide you on where to seek medical attention, depending on your symptoms and risk factors.

If a cervical polyp has been detected, follow up with radiological investigations and excision/removal of the polyp may be recommended by your gynaecologist. Usually, if the polyp is small, the removal procedure is fairly uncomplicated and both the patient and surgeon will glean more information about the nature of the polyp (whether benign or malignant) through histology testing. There is also a need to distinguish cervical polyps from endometrial polyps through histology as they have different risks.

In general, bacteria and viruses do not survive long outside the body (the organisms die in minutes to hours), hence they do not spread via toilet seats, swimming pools etc. However, they may be transmitted via bodily fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids, especially so if there is a break in the skin or mucosal membranes. Please see a doctor if you suspect that you may have contracted an STD as thorough follow-up and investigations are required.

The main purpose of urine cytology is to detect high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) of the urinary tract. The Paris System (TPS) Working Group, composed of cytopathologists, surgical pathologists, and urologists, published a standardised reporting system that includes specific diagnostic categories and cytomorphologic criteria for the reliable diagnosis of HGUC.

Fibroadenomas are among the most common non-cancerous (benign) breast lumps in young women. They typically present as painless, highly mobile and firm nodules within the breast. Mammograms and breast ultrasounds are often used for further evaluation depending on the risks, and diagnosis can be confirmed by core needle biopsy or excision biopsy. A fibroadenoma may be monitored for long-term stability, or removed by vacuum-assisted needle biopsy (VAB) or surgery. Simple fibroadenomas do not increase the risk of breast cancer.