Monsoon Hazard: Delhi-NCR battles alarming surge in daily conjunctivitis cases
New Delhi, July 26: Amid heavy rainfall in Delhi and its surrounding areas over the past weeks, the National Capital Region is witnessing a significant increase in cases of conjunctivitis. Dr JS Titiyal, the chief of RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS, reveals that the national capital is currently reporting around 100 cases of conjunctivitis daily.
"This is the time when we usually see a seasonal spike in conjunctivitis cases, which coincides with the flu season. Most of these cases are caused by a viral infection," says Dr Titiyal.
Conjunctivitis cases are commonly reported during the monsoon season, and symptoms include redness, itching, watering, and sometimes discharge from the eyes, as mentioned by Dr. Harsh Kumar, an ophthalmologist at the Centre for Sight.
One private eye care hospital in Delhi has reported a total of 1,032 conjunctivitis cases from the National Capital Region and 1,521 cases across India. These figures represent a significant increase compared to the same period in the previous year when there were 646 cases in Delhi NCR and 1,202 cases nationwide. Dr. Samir Sud, director and co-founder of Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals, emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and swift action to control the spread of this eye condition effectively.
Dr Titiyal advises the public to follow general hygiene measures, including regular handwashing after coming from outside. He also suggests avoiding close contact with family members who have eye flu and wearing dark goggles if one has conjunctivitis. Moreover, children may need to stay home from school for a few days to prevent the spread to other students.
Dr Harsh also provides some precautionary measures, such as avoiding crowded places and refraining from touching common objects like railings or handles. He recommends using only antibiotic eye drops to manage the infection.
To reduce the risk of transmitting conjunctivitis, Dr Samir Sud stresses the importance of maintaining strict hygiene practices, such as thorough handwashing, avoiding touching the eyes, and not sharing personal items like towels or eye makeup. These measures can play a crucial role in preventing the transmission of the infection.
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- With inputs from agencies
