A GIRL in my office is taking metronidazole for toothache and says she can't drink wine for two days after finishing it. Is this right? I thought it was the end of the course.

Metronidazole is an antibiotic that may produce bad side effects if taken with alcohol, most commonly sickness and vomiting.

In order to ensure the drug has been processed by your body, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol for 48 hours after finishing the course.

Your pharmacist can advise you if you need further information.

I FEED my kids eggs for supper a couple of times a week. My friend says that's too much but I thought that was only if you had high cholesterol?

There is no limit on the number of eggs people should eat.

They are a good source of protein and several vitamins including D, A and B12.

Eggs can be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet but it is best to cook them without adding large amounts of butter, oil or salt.

It used to be believed that eggs would contribute to high cholesterol as they contain cholesterol, however it now thought that if someone has high cholesterol the best thing is to cut down and saturated fat in the diet.

WHAT is Scabies?

Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by tiny mites which burrow into the skin.

The main symptoms of scabies are intense itching and a rash in areas of the body where mites have burrowed.

A scabies rash can also develop, made up of tiny red insect bites or spots.

If you scratch the rash, you may also develop crusty sores. The rash can appear anywhere on the body, but most often appears in folds of skin between fingers and toes, elbows, wrists and nipples.

Your GP will usually be able to diagnose scabies from the appearance of your skin and by looking for burrow marks made by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite.

To confirm the diagnosis, a skin sample may be gently scraped from the affected area so it can be examined under a microscope for evidence of scabies mites, their eggs and faeces.

Permethrin cream and malathion lotion are the two most widely used treatments for scabies, both medications contain insecticides that kill the scabies mite.

Your GP should also be able to prescribe creams and medications such as a mild steroid cream and/or antihistamines to help reduce itchiness.