10-12 conjunctivitis cases recorded each day

PANAJI: Conjunctivitis (an eye ailment) has registered a steep rise in the state over the past few weeks, especially last week, with some hospitals recording as many as 10 to 12 cases a day.
"We have been noticing more conjunctivitis cases in the last few days. The number has gone up this year," said Dr Digambar Naik of Vrundavan hospital at Mapusa.
The extended monsoon is suspected to have triggered the escalation.
"Unlike last year when we used to get 3 or 4 cases of conjunctivitis in a day, this time we had got about 10 cases a day. Then again it is on a decline and in last few days we have seen the number of patients with conjunctivitis drop to 4 or 5 per day," said head of ophthalmology department in Goa medical college and hospital Dr Pradeep Naik.
Pradeep said that in the majority of cases conjunctivitis was caused due to inflammation of the eyelids, caused most commonly due to viral infection.
"Very few were bacterial in nature. Patients with both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis were treated on time and there have been no complications reported so far," he added.
Doctors said usually conjunctivitis cases crop up during this season due to an increase in pollen and constant climate changes.
However, this year there has been increase maybe due to the conducive temperature and moisture enablig the spread of the virus.
Redness of the eye, itching, watering, discharge, swelling around the eyes, stickiness of eyelids, irritation, and the like are symptoms of this virus, which spreads through touch.
The infection spreads through touch; touching door knobs, tables, using infected linen and the like facilitate its spread. Hand hygiene is the most important precaution to be taken.
Doctors suggest that people avoid touching their eyes due to which the infection can spread very fast.
Ophthalmologists however cautioned the patients not to opt for self medication as wrong medication for conjunctivitis can lead to haemorrhage in the eye.
While earlier, four to five cases were being reported per day, the number has now shot up to more than 10 cases.
"It is important for patients to consult a doctor immediately when the symptoms show and not try out medicines on their own. They also should wash their hands regularly and not touch anything", added ophthalmologist Dr Ulhas Kaisare from Panaji.