The number of children with conjunctivitis in Nghe An has increased dramatically.
(Baonghean.vn) - Over the past month, an outbreak of conjunctivitis (pink eye) has occurred in Vinh City in particular and Nghe An province in general. The number of patients has increased dramatically. On average, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital receives 20-30 children with the disease for examination and treatment each day.
According to Dr. Phan Dinh Toan, Head of the Ophthalmology Department at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital: Many preschool-aged children suffer from conjunctivitis. The vast majority of children who come to the hospital for examination and treatment are diagnosed early, so the treatment process is safe and effective.
However, a small number of children experience complications affecting the cornea (the black part of the eye) due to parents self-medicating improperly, making treatment difficult, prolonging recovery, and potentially leading to serious consequences such as impaired vision.
"Pink eye" is the common name for this condition, while the professional term is acute conjunctivitis. The characteristic symptom is redness of the eye due to congestion (dilation) of superficial blood vessels, hence the name "pink eye." Other symptoms include: excessive discharge (eye pus/mucus), eyelid swelling, irritation, and tearing.
Acute conjunctivitis can be caused by many factors, including bacterial infections, viral infections, allergies, chemicals, or physical agents. However, the most common causes fall into two groups: bacterial and viral, each with different clinical manifestations. Approximately 80% of current cases of conjunctivitis are caused by Adenovirus.
Adenovirus conjunctivitis can occur at any age and year-round, although outbreaks often occur during the summer-autumn or autumn-winter seasons. Besides causing pink eye, adenovirus can also cause other illnesses such as nasopharyngitis and pneumonia in children.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye) usually lasts about two weeks and can resolve on its own. However, some cases can have an unusual course and cause complications such as severe conjunctivitis with pseudomembranes, keratitis, corneal erosion, corneal ulcers, etc., requiring hospitalization.
Treating conjunctivitis is not too difficult; it mainly involves maintaining eye hygiene, improving overall health and immunity, along with topical medications to alleviate symptoms, reduce inflammation, and administer antibiotics.
However, patients should absolutely not self-medicate without a doctor's prescription, as incorrect treatment can cause dangerous complications and affect long-term vision.
Dr. Phan Dinh Toan, a Master's degree holder, advises: "When experiencing symptoms of conjunctivitis, patients should seek examination and treatment at medical facilities to receive proper guidance and avoid unfortunate complications. Absolutely do not use medication based on advice from others or use prescriptions intended for one person to treat another, especially medications containing corticosteroids, without a doctor's prescription."
Do not treat the condition using folk remedies, such as steaming the eyes with herbs or leaves, as this may worsen the condition and increase the risk of secondary infection.
When schools and families discover that children have conjunctivitis, they should keep the children at home to prevent the spread of the disease.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is easily contracted, spreads rapidly within the community, and can cause epidemics. To proactively prevent the disease, the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, recommends that people effectively implement measures to prevent conjunctivitis.
To prevent the spread of conjunctivitis, patients should: Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. Wash their hands frequently with soap and hand sanitizer.
If your eyes are watery or have a lot of discharge, use disposable tissues or cotton swabs to clean them, then dispose of them in a covered trash can to avoid spreading infection to family and others. Sanitize your hands after cleaning your eyes.
- Do not wear contact lenses when you have conjunctivitis.
- Use personal items such as food and drinks, washbasin and towel, blanket, and pillow separately.
- Wear a mask when you have symptoms such as coughing or sneezing...
- Clean tables, chairs, and children's living and play areas with surface disinfectant solutions.
- Limit contact with people in crowded places.
- Especially when children have symptoms such as red eyes, watery eyes, or excessive discharge, they should be taken to eye clinics for timely treatment and management of complications.
