From unbearable sore throats to endometriosis – Dr Jeff answers your health questions

Q: MY 13-year-old son has had a sore throat for almost four weeks.

The GP said it was an upper respiratory virus and didn’t need anything to treat it.

His throat was so unbearably sore my son was regularly having to take paracetamol and ibuprofen just to manage the pain.

This cleared up a month ago but I feel he is now asking for painkillers for the slightest thing.

Could he be addicted to paracetamol or ibuprofen after four weeks of regular use?

Deborah May, Rochester, Kent

A: Technically neither ibuprofen nor paracetamol can result in addiction as neither contain any neuro-addictive properties.

It is possible for anyone, children in particular, to develop a psychological addiction to almost anything, but this is not a biochemical process and is more a learned response.

We all have habits, and in children this can be more pronounced, especially in early teens when hormones and bodies are changing rapidly.

Ibuprofen is not something you want to be taking long term – there are risks associated with prolonged use.

Stopping the medicines suddenly would have no physical withdrawal effect, but the key is to understand why your son feels he needs these medicines and if there are any other concerns he has.

Q: I WAS diagnosed with endometriosis in July. It was discovered from an MRI for pain I had been experiencing.

Over the last few months I keep having the sensation of a UTI and I have noticed it’s always two weeks before my period is due.

Is this the endometriosis?

Laura Reid, Dagenham, Essex

Women are more likely to suffer with urinary tract infections compared with men.

First, the bowel, uterus (and reproductive organs) and bladder are all crammed into the pelvis.

This means that problems with one system (although not necessarily directly connected) can result inirritation or inflammation of another.

Second, the short distance between outside and the bladder means it is easier for bacteria to track up the female urinary system.

In your case, whether it is a urinary infection or cystitis, if your uterus or surrounding tissues are inflamed, this can press on the bladder and result in you having urinary symptoms.

While it is important to rule out any infective processes, it might be that if your endometriosis is controlled your urinary symptoms improve too.