The Doctor Is In

There is a chance that your wife will test positive if there was unprotected sex. Even if she has tested negative, she should repeat the test after three months. But since your wife tested negative at the time of her delivery, your son cannot be positive. You have to ensure that you have protected sex and your family doesn’t use your personnel things. However, sharing utensils and other things is not a problem.

I am a 26-yr-old girl with a problem of stammering. My uncle also has it. Is this hereditary? My stammering sometimes gets worse. Can I be cured? Sanjana

Dr Jitendra Nagpal, Senior Psychiatrist, Vimhans, Delhi, says:

It is very rare that a physical factor is responsible for stammering. It is mostly psychosocial and has to looked at in a very interpersonal context — the way you interact in public, at home or when alone. The problem can’t be seen in isolation. It is all about your level of confidence and how conscious you are in public. It is a curable problem and can be cured at any age. I suggest you see a speech pathologist and go for counselling. In very rare cases is the problem hereditary and can be due to some infection.