Self-medicating for pink eye: Many unpredictable complications

Currently, the weather is in the changing seasons, creating conditions for pink eye to "break out" in many provinces and cities.

Statistics at the Central Eye Hospital show that currently there are many patients after being diagnosed withThe patient bought inappropriate medicine for treatment, leading to a more serious illness.

Master Tran Khanh Sam - Deputy Head of the Cornea Department, Central Eye Hospital said that patients who buy and use too many anti-inflammatory drugs will prolong the disease, cause eye infections and complications that cause migraines...

Do not buy 3-4 types of medicine by yourself.

In recent weeks, the number of patients coming to the Central Eye Hospital has increased dramatically. It was nearly 10 am but the line of people was still long in the area where patients with health insurance were examined. Dark glasses were present on almost all patients with pink eye coming to the hospital.

After a long time of waiting due to the large number of patients coming to see the doctor, Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha, 35 years old, from Thanh Xuan, was "shocked" when the doctor pointed out that the reason her eyes took a long time to heal and had more serious complications from infection was because she bought medicine to treat them herself based on the advice of her relatives.

Ms. Ha said that after discovering eye pain, she was advised by acquaintances and drug sellers about some types of medicine and she chose 4 types of medicine to use at the same time. When she came here for examination, when the doctor asked her about her history of taking any medicine, the doctors analyzed that out of the four types of medicine she took, 3 of them had the same anti-inflammatory active ingredient. Therefore, her illness took a long time to heal because too many anti-inflammatory drugs were used at the same time, reducing the effectiveness of the treatment.

Ms. Ha is just a small case among many patients coming to the Central Eye Hospital.

People with pink eye need advice and appropriate medication. (Photo: TG/Vietnam+)

According to Master Tran Khanh Sam, people with pink eye should not buy medicine to treat themselves, especially drugs with strong anti-inflammatory functions. Using medicine incorrectly will make the disease take longer to heal and make the virus that causes the disease resistant to the medicine and there is a high risk of complications due to buying medicine without permission.

Master Sam recommends that in case the patient does not have the conditions to go to the doctor and needs to use medicine urgently, they should only buy antibiotics and eye wash solutions such as saline.

Risk of a strong outbreak

According to statistics from the Central Eye Hospital, the number of patients with pink eye and keratitis coming for examination has increased 3-4 times compared to before. Every day, the hospital's doctors examine about 1,000-1,500 patients, of which about 300-4,000 patients have pink eye. Patients with pink eye coming for examination live in Hanoi and some neighboring provinces.

According to the Central Eye Hospital, in the past week, pink eye epidemic has begun to appear and is at risk of a strong outbreak.

While waiting for his turn to see a doctor, Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, 40 years old, in Ba Dinh District (Hanoi) said: "Due to the nature of my job, I also interact with many people. The day before, I came into contact with a customer who had a sore eye and caught the disease. I immediately went to the hospital. My eyes felt very uncomfortable, with a lot of discharge and burning."

Mr. Tran Manh Hung, in Hoai Duc district, Hanoi shared that this was the first time he had pink eye, it felt very itchy, burning and his eyes were swollen. Currently, some of his colleagues at his office have the disease so he may have caught it from the office.

In some other provinces, the number of cases of pink eye has also increased. According to statistics from Ha Nam Provincial Eye Hospital, since the beginning of September, the hospital has received nearly 200 patients for examination and treatment every day, of which the rate of people with pink eye accounts for about 8-10%.

According to statistics, at Ha Nam Provincial Eye Hospital, there have been no serious cases or complications. However, in reality, the number of people with pink eye in the province is higher than the hospital's statistics because many people have bought medicine to treat themselves at home, or examined at private clinics.

Master Tran Khanh Sam analyzed that the changing seasons, such as air, humidity, and temperature, create favorable conditions for the virus to attack the human body. Currently, all drugs are effective in treating and curing conjunctivitis quickly, because there is no specific treatment for pink eye. Therefore, patients with sore eyes should go to the doctor for proper treatment.

To prevent the spread and outbreak of the disease like in 2013, Associate Professor Do Nhu Hon - Director of the Central Eye Hospital said: "Faced with the current situation, the hospital has issued policies and instructions to lower-level hospitals and ophthalmology facilities nationwide on diagnosis and treatment in case of outbreaks."

Regarding the work of ensuring drug sources, Associate Professor Hon affirmed that the drug sources at the hospital for treatment are ready and reserved, the hospital proactively reserves or buys more to avoid the situation of patients lacking drugs.

Regarding disease prevention, Mr. Tran Dac Phu - Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) advised people that there is still no vaccine to prevent the disease and no specific treatment, so people who have had conjunctivitis can still be infected again. Therefore, people need to keep clean, remember to wash their hands with soap or antiseptic solution; wash their eyes daily with saline; and limit contact with people with conjunctivitis.

In particular, doctors also note that parents need to pay attention to improving the health of young children because children have weak antibodies, if infected with pink eye virus, they will easily get associated diseases..

According to Vietnam+