Conjunctivitis cases surge in Mumbai, a 210 pc increase in a week

Mumbai has witnessed a sharp increase of 210 per cent in conjunctivitis cases within a single week According to a report from the state government Mumbai recorded 1275 cases of conjunctivitis in the first week of August compared to the 607 cases reported until July 31 of this yearHealth experts in the city have reported a rise in the daily number of patients seeking treatmentDr Girija Suresh Senior Ophthalmic Consultant at Fortis Hospital Mulund stated In a tertiary care hospital like ours we are seeing eight to ten cases per day There has been a slight increase in cases in the past few daysAnother doctor reported a similar trend stating I have been treating about four to six patients with conjunctivitis every day for a few weeks However the number of cases is now decreasing Most cases have been mild and very rarely serious Out of approximately 100 cases Ive seen only one severe case of viral hemorrhagic conjunctivitis which resulted in a severely red eye So far there has been no case where vision was affected said Dr Sujal Shah Director of Ophthalmology at Sir HN Reliance Foundation HospitalThe cases of conjunctivitis span various age groups particularly affecting the working class between ages 25 to 4050 young individuals and schoolgoing childrenDr Shah explained The ongoing epidemic of conjunctivitis is primarily caused by a viral infection Many patients are affected often in conjunction with viral fevers The condition is usually mild to moderate and seldom affects vision unless the cornea is involvedIn addition to Mumbai Vasai Virar reported 116 cases Navi Mumbai reported 235 cases and Thane reported 22 cases until August 6Common symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness pain watering and dischargeDr Suresh advised Individuals suffering from an eye infection with symptoms like red and sticky eyes should avoid public places Children should not attend school or go to playgrounds Its important to consult a doctor and follow hygiene protocolsRegarding preventive measures Dr Shah emphasized Its essential to understand that the infection spreads through touch from infected surfaces Sanitizing all infected surfaces is the best way to prevent its spread The highest risk of transmission occurs in crowded areas like schools offices trains buses taxis and elevatorsThe doctors recommended the following preventive measuresWash and sanitize hands frequentlyKeep personal belongings especially toiletries and handkerchiefs separateAvoid touching your eyes frequentlyRemember that the conjunctivitis virus is not airborne and spreads through touch Thus personal belongings should not be shared among individuals whether children or adults