India sees spike in Conjunctivitis: What is pink eye? Check symptoms, precautions and treatment

Amid the monsoon season in India, several cities like Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Vadodara, and Arunachal Pradesh are experiencing a rise in Conjunctivitis or Pink eye cases.

On Tuesday (July 25), Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj told PTI, "These cases are coming up due to humidity in the air. Our hospitals are on alert, especially related to cases of conjunctivitis, fungal infections and vector-borne diseases."

In Delhi, DR JS Titiyal, Chief RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS told PTI, "We are getting at least 100 cases of conjunctivitis per day. There is usually a seasonal increase in conjunctivitis cases, which coincides with the flu season. The conjunctivitis cases are mostly caused by virus."

Both government and private hospitals are on high alert in the city. According to ANI, a private eye care hospital in Delhi recorded 1,032 conjunctivitis cases, while the total number of cases across India was around 1,521. 

Furthermore, in the Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh, schools have been temporarily closed amid the outbreak as part of precautionary steps for kids.

Here's what you need to know about conjunctivitis and ways to prevent it:

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as Pink Eye, is an infection or inflammation of the transparent membrane that covers the eyelid and eyeball. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria or by allergies. 

Both bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are highly contagious, while allergic conjunctivitis is not. 

According to medical experts, children are more susceptible to getting pink eye, due to their frequent close contact with individuals and also because they are not that hygienic. 

Common ways to get contagious pink eye include:

Direct contact with an infected person, especially through hand-to-eye contact.

Inadequate cleaning of contact lenses or specs properly, including the use of poorly fitting contact lenses. 

How to recognise if you have conjunctivitis?

Red and burning eyes

Itchiness

Puffy eyelids

Blurry or hazy vision

Excessive mucus or yellow/white discharge from the eyes

How to treat Conjunctivitis

There is no specific treatment for conjunctivitis as it can be caused by most viruses. It can last up to 1 to 2 weeks, depending on its severity. Always consult a doctor before drawing conclusions. 

Precautions:

Maintain proper hygiene like washing your hands regularly before touching your eyes.

Avoid rubbing your eyes.

Keep your eyes clean, including refraining from touching eyes with unwashed hands.

Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, and handkerchiefs. 

Use protective eyewear such as sunglasses.

Avoid self-medication and consult an ophthalmologist.