JOIN USLarge number of conjunctivitis cases reported in Mysore
The cases of conjunctivitis or pink eye are usually prevalent during the summer season. However, a large number of cases have been reported during the month this year in Mysore district.
Ophtalmologists in the city who have been receiving a good number of cases since the last fortnight, have issued precautions for others, to avoid getting infected.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dr Rajesh K V, Chief Medical Officer, Vasan Eye Care Hospital, said, the hospital has been receiving about 20 cases a day during the past week. The allergy can spread easily from person to person, he said.
Dr Kantharaj of K R Hospital said that the Eye Hospital too was receiving many cases, but had decreased in the past few days. He added that precaution was necessary to avoid infection.
He said that there were two types of conjunctivitis -- viral and bacterial, both causing purulent discharge in the eye (pus formation).
“The condition, if it affects a large number of people, is usually bacterial conjunctivitis,” he said. He added that the duration of viral Conjunctivitis was more than that of bacterial conjunctivitis, with the latter lasting for about seven days.
Antibiotics
While there were antibiotics against bacterial conjunctivitis, viral conjunctivitis usually subsides on its own, he said.
“Patients should consult ophtalmologists, if there is an inflammation in the eye. If not treated in time, the condition will take a while to reduce,” he said. The cases recorded, were typically more among children.
District Health Officer, Dr K Puttaswamy, said that most of the cases were reported from urban areas.
“There have not been any reports of conjunctivitis from rural areas yet. We will have to await the monthly report to know whether cases have been reported in rural pockets too,” he added.