Pink eye is an acute disease with severe symptoms, contagious but usually benign, leaving few sequelae. However, the disease often greatly affects daily life, study and work. There are many cases where the disease lasts a long time, causing complications that affect vision later on.
On the afternoon of September 21, the Ministry of Health said that currently the situation of pink eye is increasing in some provinces and cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City…
According to the Ministry of Health, pink eye is transmitted through direct or indirect contact with eye secretions through infected hands or sharing utensils and objects contaminated with pathogens. Pink eye often occurs in flooded areas, water pollution, and lack of domestic water.
Although pink eye is an acute disease with severe symptoms and is contagious, it is usually benign and leaves few sequelae. However, the disease greatly affects daily life, study and work. There are many cases where the disease lasts for a long time, causing complications that affect vision later on. Therefore, everyone needs to have a good sense of disease prevention and need timely treatment when sick.
Preliminary statistics from the National Eye Hospital show that in recent weeks, an average of about 700 cases of pink eye (also known as conjunctivitis) have been examined. On average, for every 100 examinations, there are about 30 cases of pink eye. Last week alone, there were 800 cases, including some cases of complications due to pink eye.
Talking to Health & Life Newspaper , Dr. Hoang Cuong – Central Eye Hospital said that in previous years, when the school year first started, there were almost no cases of pink eye in students who had to go to the hospital. examination, this year there have been quite a few children with pink eye brought to the examination by their parents. The children had pain on one side, then on both sides, and their eyes were swollen, making the families very worried.
Doctor. Hoang Cuong also noted that although there are no relevant statistics on complications, in fact there have been some cases of complications recorded, so people should not be subjective when experiencing pink eye.
In Ho Chi Minh City, according to the Department of Health, the number of cases of pink eye examined at hospitals in the City has increased compared to recent years.
Promote communication, strengthen monitoring, early detection and timely handling of pink eye outbreaks
To strengthen disease prevention and limit the number of infections in the coming time, on the afternoon of September 21, the Ministry of Health sent a document to the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities requesting to strengthen disease prevention. red eyes.
Accordingly, in the document signed by Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong – Deputy Minister of Health, the Ministry of Health requested the Chairman of the People’s Committee to pay attention to directing the Department of Health to strengthen monitoring, early detection and prevention. promptly handle outbreaks of pink eye disease in the area; Organize guidance on implementing anti-infection measures at kindergartens, schools, agencies, factories and communities.
Medical examination and treatment facilities in the province need to well organize consultation and treatment, and promptly notify units and localities with patients to deploy disease prevention measures; Be fully prepared to avoid missing drugs, supplies, chemicals, and epidemic prevention equipment; Strengthen hospital infection control in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Health.
The Department of Information and Communications presides over and coordinates with the Department of Health and mass media agencies to increase propaganda about pink eye so that people can understand the causes, transmission routes and disease prevention measures in the community. ; Regularly broadcast messages and recommendations to the community on mass media about the Ministry of Health’s measures to prevent pink eye.
It is recommended to take patients to a medical examination and treatment facility when there are signs of sensitivity to light, blurred vision, symptoms lasting more than 1 week, getting worse or not improving, eyes with pus or mucus, fever accompanied by hurt.
On the part of the Department of Education and Training of provinces and cities, it is necessary to direct educational establishments in the area to implement measures to prevent pink eye in schools and immediately notify local medical facilities when detected. currently students are sick so that the outbreak can be handled early and thoroughly.
Preschool education facilities need to ensure school hygiene, teachers guide and help children with clean personal hygiene, ensure each child has their own towel, wash their face with clean water, and wash their hands with clean water. With soap, do not rub your eyes with your hands. Organize propaganda and guidance for parents and students on measures to prevent pink eye; Coordinate with parents to take their children to an eye specialist for appropriate medication use.
The Ministry of Health requests units to monitor and report the epidemic situation to the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) according to regulations to monitor and direct disease prevention in a timely manner.
To proactively prevent and control pink eye, the Department of Preventive Health recommends that people take the following measures:
- Regularly wash your hands with soap and clean water; Do not raise your hands to rub your eyes, nose, or mouth; Do not share personal items such as: eye drop bottles, towels, eyeglasses, masks, etc.
- Clean your eyes, nose, and throat daily with physiological saline and regular eye drops and nose drops.
- Use soap or common antiseptic substances to disinfect the patient’s utensils and belongings.
- Limit contact with people who are sick or suspected of having pink eye.
- Patients or people suspected of having pink eye need to limit contact with others and go to a medical facility for timely examination, consultation, and treatment. Do not self-treat without instructions from a medical professional.
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