The number of patients with pink eye in Nghe An has increased significantly compared to previous years.
(Baonghean.vn) - Since August 2023, an epidemic of pink eye (acute conjunctivitis) has appeared in Nghe An province. Especially in September, when students return to school, the number of patients tends to increase dramatically.
Pink eye epidemic breaks out strongly
For the past 2 months, on average, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital has received 20-30 children for examination and treatment of pink eye every day. Similarly, at Nghe An Eye Hospital, out of 100-120 outpatients every day, 30-40 patients come for examination due to pink eye. According to statistics from the Examination Department, Nghe An Eye Hospital, from September 18-21, there were 168 patients with pink eye coming for examination, accounting for 30% of the number of outpatients coming for examination at the hospital.
Doctor Nguyen Sa Huynh - Head of Training and Line Management Department, Nghe An Eye Hospital said: The rate of patients with pink eye coming to district hospitals for examination is even higher because Nghe An Eye Hospital is a provincial hospital specializing in receiving severe cases with referrals. Only people with pink eye with complications come to the hospital for examination. People with mild pink eye often do not go to the hospital for examination because they are not covered by insurance.
Carrying out assigned functions and tasks, from September 18 to September 21, 2023, Nghe An Eye Hospital sent a working group to conduct screening and blindness prevention in 12 communes in Thanh Chuong district. In 4 days, the group examined 1,412 people and discovered that up to 282 people had pink eye in the community, accounting for 20%. Some communes with high rates such as Dai Dong commune had up to 51 people with pink eye/212 people coming for examination... Examining in other districts, the working group of Nghe An Eye Hospital also found that about 25% of patients came for eye examination because of pink eye.
According to the report of Anh Son District Medical Center, from the beginning of 2023 to September 22, 2023, the whole district had 3,803 patients with pink eye. Of these, the number of patients in the first 8 months of the year was 332 people and in September 2023 alone was 3,471 people; the patients were mainly children under 6 years old with 2,368 people; 2/3 of the patients were treated at home.
According to epidemiologists, recently, pink eye has become an epidemic in a number of provinces and cities in the country. In Nghe An, the incidence rate has increased significantly compared to previous years. This year, the symptoms are more severe with many patients having conjunctival hemorrhage and corneal complications… This epidemic needs to be controlled soon.
Pink eye is very easy to catch, easy to spread in the community and cause epidemics. The disease can occur at any age and all year round, however, there are often outbreaks in the summer - autumn or autumn - winter. Until now, there is no vaccine to prevent the disease, no specific treatment and people who have had pink eye can still be infected again just a few months after recovering from the disease.
Do not let the epidemic spread and last long
To prevent and combat pink eye, at this time, Nghe An health sector has implemented many measures. Doctor Tran Tat Thang - Director of Nghe An Eye Hospital said: Performing the function of treating and preventing eye diseases in the province, the Hospital has directed public and non-public medical facilities to strengthen the prevention and treatment of pink eye; comply with the examination and treatment process for pink eye according to the Ministry of Health's protocol; advise patients and their families on measures to prevent the spread of pink eye; monitor and track cases, promptly refer severe cases.
On September 14, the Center for Disease Control of Nghe An province also sent an official dispatch requesting the Medical Centers of districts, towns and Vinh city to strengthen monitoring and detection of cases in the community and at medical examination and treatment facilities; strengthen communication work for people, especially at workplaces and educational institutions, and recommend that people (especially children) take good disease prevention measures.
Dr. Chu Trong Trang - Director of Nghe An Province Center for Disease Control said: The Center has strengthened direction, guidance, and technical support for the grassroots health system in early detection of cases, monitoring, investigation, and timely handling of outbreaks of pink eye in the area; supporting Cloramin B disinfectant chemicals for localities to deploy and thoroughly handle outbreaks.
At the same time, the provincial Center for Disease Control also organized inspection teams to inspect the communication work on prevention and control of pink eye and anti-infection measures at kindergartens and schools in the area. Regularly monitor and evaluate the situation of pink eye and urgently advise the Department of Health to direct the thorough handling of cases and outbreaks of pink eye in schools, medical facilities, households, and crowded places, to prevent the epidemic from spreading and prolonging.
To prevent and control the epidemic more effectively, health stations in communes, wards and towns need to closely coordinate with schools in detecting and investigating cases, cleaning the environment, and disinfecting classrooms with CloraminB chemicals or common detergents.
People need to take good preventive measures such as: Regularly wash hands with soap, use clean water; do not rub eyes, nose, mouth; do not share personal items such as eye drops, towels, eyeglasses, masks; clean eyes, nose, throat daily with saline, regular eye drops, nose drops; use soap or common antiseptics to disinfect the patient's belongings and utensils; limit contact with people who are sick or suspected of having pink eye... People who are sick or suspected of having pink eye need to limit contact with others.
Regarding the treatment of pink eye, Dr. Nguyen Sa Huynh (Nghe An Eye Hospital) recommends: Pink eye usually lasts about two weeks and can heal on its own. However, there are some cases that develop abnormally and can cause complications such as severe conjunctivitis with pseudomembrane, keratitis, corneal erosion, corneal ulcers... requiring hospitalization. People with signs of pink eye need to go to a medical facility for timely examination, consultation, and treatment./.
