My son complains of intense pain in ears and usually this is preceded by attacks of cold.

I have been to general

practitioners but attacks recur. Kindly advise.

—Pallavi

Dr KK Handa, Associate Professor, Department of ENT, AIIMS, says:

Most likely your son is suffering from acute suppurative otitis media. He needs to be examined by an ENT surgeon. If there is an infection and collection of pus behind the eardrum, he needs to be treated with antibiotics. If he does not respond, then a small surgical produce — myringotomy — needs to be done to drain out the collected pus. This is a recurring condition. The focus of infection, if in the sinuses, also needs to be treated. The infection should not recur if the focus is treated properly the first time.

My son is a Type 1 diabetic and does not follow a diet prescribed to him. His sugar levels are fluctuating. I am also giving him karela juice. How much does it help? And is there anything I can do besides the insulin shots he is already taking?

Dr S P Byotra Department of Internal Medicine, Sir Gangaram Hospital, says:

If the sugar levels are fluctuating, the first thing is to consult a doctor and check if his dosage of insulin is correct. Secondly, regular exercise is necessary to keep diabetes under control. And the diet of any diabetic patient has to be high in fibre content. Fruits with excess glucose like Chiku, grapes, mangoes etc should be avoided. Once in three months, the patient should get the sugar level tested and consult a doctor accordingly.