Q Can you tell me why my mouth is watering so much?
It is really bad and I feel as though I'm going to start dribbling all the time!
A Any disorder affecting the nerves associated with the mouth or throat can result in excessive saliva, either because more is being produced or because of difficulties in swallowing, more is being stored in the mouth. Colds and respiratory infections usually cause greater amounts of saliva to be produced and are prevalent at this time of year. Pregnancy can usually be accompanied by an increase in the amount of saliva generated.
Your eyes water when tears are produced without any obvious reason, usually because tears don't drain away properly or too many are produced. This can occur as a result of conjunctivitis, injury or an irritation, such as car fumes.
Symptoms
If your tear ducts become blocked or narrowed, or you have an eye infection, excess tears can build up, causing them to overflow. If you already have a diagnosed condition, such as conjunctivitis or an inward-growing eyelash, it may be related to your watering eyes. If the cause is not obvious, your GP may refer you to an eye-care specialist.
Diagnosis
An ophthalmologist will use local anaesthetic drops to check for blockages in your tear ducts. A probe may be inserted into the drainage channels on the inside of your eyelid to determine whether they are blocked or fluid may be injected into your duct to see if it is felt in your throat.
Treatment
Having treatment for watering eyes will depend on how severe the problem is and what is causing it. Treatment is not always necessary.
WHAT IS ... WATERING EYE?
Q I have been diagnosed with gastroenteritis even though I ate the same as my family and everyone else was OK. I was being sick but had only a little diarrhoea at the beginning, which made me think I didn't have gastroenteritis.
A Gastroenteritis is a term that cover a number of possible causes. Food poisoning is often the case when poorly prepared or stored food is consumed. The symptoms are associated with a bacterial infection, the bug growing and being ingested in the food, or from a toxin, a chemical that a bug produces as it multiplies and is ingested with the food.
Once someone is infected, if they do not wash well after going to the toilet, there is a chance of person-to-person spread of a bacterial gastroenteritis.
The winter vomiting virus, Norovirus, is spread primarily by contact. The virus can be spread from hand to hand or even from other surfaces including materials such as bedding. Hand washing plays a vital part in limiting the risk of spread.