TODAY -
Conjunctivitis cases surge; Govt seeks report
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 21 2023:
With cases of viral conjunctivitis on the rise in Manipur specially in valley districts, the State Government has asked all districts to submit a report of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) to ascertain the exact figure of the infected persons.
Also known as pink eye and eye flu, conjunctivitis is caused by adenovirus or enterovirus.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, State Nodal Officer of National Health Mission, Manipur (National Programme for Control of Blindness) Dr Vikram Khoisnam explained what causes the highly contagious viral conjunctivitis, how it is spread and ways to prevent infections.
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He said that there is an uptick in the cases of conjunctivitis in the entire North East and some other parts of the country.
Saying that they have received a report on the spike of the pink eye infections in valley districts viz; Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur recently, Dr Vikram said that conjunctivitis is highly contagious and it spread through hand-to-eye contact by hands or objects that are contaminated with the infectious virus or respiratory tract droplets.
Dr Vikram further stated that pink eyes can also be spread when a person swims in contaminated water or shares contaminated towels.
Continuing that the chance of getting eye infections is higher in crowded places such as schools, colleges, hospitals, cinema halls, he said the rise of conjunctivitis is also related with weather change.
Dr Vikram continued that humid weather offers a favourable environment for the viruses to spread the contagious eye infections.
About the symptoms of conjunctivitis, he conveyed that one eye will turn pinkish first before it spreads to the other.
The eyes will then become teary with crust building up, causing a stingy sensation.
There, however, is not much to worry about even if there is an outbreak of conjunctivitis as the eye infections will clear up within 10 to 14 days even without treatment, he added.
Dr Vikram continued that some cases of pink eye disappear within three to five days too.
Maintaining that the viral infections will take more time to heal if the infected eyes get bacterial infections too, Dr Vikram advised the people to take no chance and consult with doctors if they have conjunctivitis or any eye infections.
He also appealed to all to not administer a random eye drop or antibiotic whenever they have pink eyes without consulting doctors as eyes are very sensitive organs and not all pink eyes are cases of conjunctivitis.
On safety measures, Dr Vikram advised the people to wash their hands regularly using a hand sanitiser or a soap for 20 seconds at minimum.
Saying that people shouldn't touch their face and eyes as far as possible if there is no facility to wash hands, Dr Vikram further advised the people to not stay close to infected persons.
There is a rumour that conjunctivitis spread through staring and it is absolutely wrong, he clarified.
If swelling and stingy sensation accompanies conjunctivitis, than a cold compression treatment can be given with ice properly covered with a clean cloth or plastic but the droplets shouldn't enter the eyes, Dr Vikram said and advised that people infected with conjunctivitis shouldn't watch television or mobile phones for a long time but take adequate rest.
He further said that people with eye infections should wear sunglasses whenever they go outside but contact lenses should be avoided until the eye infections are cleared.
There may be about 1000 cases of conjunctivitis now in Manipur but the exact figure will be known after the IDSP report is submitted, Dr Vikram added.
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