I have recently read the drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may cause children to hallucinate. My child has recently been diagnosed, should I still give her the medication?

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, it’s always of great concern – especially when you’re told your little one will focus more and learn better by taking powerful drugs, which can cause side effects such as insomnia, a dry mouth, headaches, drowsiness, stomach pains and nausea. And if you then hear young people on this medication may start hallucinating and even develop psychosis, well, you have every reason to feel anxious about the situation. But let me reassure you.

If your child has been correctly assessed at school and properly diagnosed by a paediatrician or psychologist, the medication that has been prescribed for your child will give her the best chance of achieving better focus and thus improve learning.

As for the side effects, yes, there are some associated with the medication prescribed for those with ADHD. But common medications such as aspirin and paracetamol can have side effects too in some circumstances.

My advice is to talk to your doctor and, as a team, watch and see what a trial of the medication does for your child – there may be no ill effects. If you’re still concerned and would prefer an alternative treatment option, children with ADHD may benefit from counselling or behaviour therapy, which can be provided by a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or other mental healthcare professional.

I’ve heard fat can be ‘caught’ like a virus. Is this true?

Wouldn’t it be nice to learn the reason you can no longer fit into a shirt is because you caught a fat bug? Research by Professor Nikhil Dhurandhar of Pennington Biomedical Research Centre in Louisiana suggests obesity can be ‘caught’ from others in the same way as a cold, with the virus, which also causes sniffles and sore throats, spread by dirty hands.

Past studies have shown that chicken and mice infected with the fat bug put on weight faster than those not infected. And now human studies have shown nearly a third of obese adults carry the bug compared to 11 per cent of thin men and women.

I don’t discount the professor’s research but, to me, there’s no doubt why we’re battling the bulge – and it’s something he concedes too. It’s because we eat a lot of food and move about 30 times less than our grandparents did. This means the old equation for maintaining weight – doing enough exercise to balance our energy intake – isn’t being followed. Obesity caught us and it’s going to be a while until we have it beaten.

So, instead of worrying about the fat bug, make sure you exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week, and eat a balanced diet. 

ASK DR JOHN FOR ADVICE
Write to What’s Up Doc?, New Idea, Private Bag 9960, North Sydney, NSW 2059, or email newidea@pacificmags.com.au. This advice is general, without the benefit of a consultation. Always consult a doctor or healthcare professional. Listen to Dr John’s Health Matters on Sundays from 7am to 8am – visit www.theradio.com.au to find your local station.

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