Doctors list out precautions amid rise in eye infection cases

Amid a surge in cases of conjunctivitis and other eye infections in Delhi, medical experts are strongly advising people to take all necessary precautions, especially in crowded places.

Both government and private hospitals have reported an increase in cases, primarily among the younger population in the city.

The rise in conjunctivitis and other eye infections is being attributed to its highly contagious nature, prompting doctors to emphasize the importance of maintaining proper hygiene practices to curb its spread.

Teachers are also cautioning parents not to send their children to school if anyone in the household is experiencing any form of eye infection.

According to Nikhil Seth, a senior consultant in ophthalmology at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad, conjunctivitis is a common flu and the leading cause of eye flu during rainy seasons, primarily due to the adeno virus family, which is highly contagious.

The virus spreads through physical contact, wherein an uninfected individual may contract it by touching the secretions from an infected person’s eye and then touching their own eyes.

As a result of this outbreak, there has been a noticeable increase of 20-25 per cent in patients seeking treatment at hospital OPDs.

Dr Aarti Nangia, a senior consultant in ophthalmology at Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, has also reported a rise in eye infections and conjunctivitis cases in Delhi recently.

The Delhi government-run hospitals are on high alert to handle cases of conjunctivitis, fungal infections, and vector-borne diseases, as confirmed by Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on July 25.

Additionally, cases of conjunctivitis and skin allergies are predominantly being reported from relief camps where people affected by flooding in parts of Delhi are residing.

Riya Kapoor, a working woman, shared that her child’s school had recently issued an informal advisory through WhatsApp, urging parents not to send their children to school if anyone in the household is suffering from any type of eye infection.

(With PTI inputs)