Dozens of people with eye discomfort, redness, swelling, and itching are showing up at hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir.
There has been an increase in the number of instances of conjunctivitis, sometimes known as “eye flu,” according to experts in both the Kashmir and Jammu regions. They assured them, however, that there was no need for alarm since the symptoms will disappear in about two weeks.
They went on to say that people should be cautious.
Dr. Rajeev Kumar Sharma, Director of Health Services in Jammu, told KNO that the hospitals under the Directorate’s jurisdiction had recorded 9,127 instances of conjunctivitis.
According to Dr. Mir Mushtaq, a spokesman for the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), 5,320 instances of “Eye Flu” have been documented at hospitals in the Kashmir division.
In a breakdown of the numbers, he said that 781 incidents had been recorded from Anantnag, 15 from Bandipora, 999 from Baramulla, 351 from Budgam, 287 from Ganderbal, 164 from Kulgam, 412 from Kupwara, 924 from Pulwama, 601 from Shopian, and 786 from Srinagar.
As the statistics does not include the cases recorded in Government Medical Colleges of both divisions, authorities claim that the true number of cases is higher. Twenty to thirty cases of “Eye Flu” are encountered daily in outpatient departments (OPDs) of almost all hospitals.
In a recent recommendation issued to curb the disease’s spread, the DHSK stressed the need of regular hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after touching one’s face or potentially contaminated surfaces.
The recommendation urges the use of hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol wherever soap and water are unavailable.
Warnings include, “Avoid touching your eyes to prevent the spread of germs.” Protect your eyes by wearing protective eyewear when around conjunctivitis patients, practise good respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and disposing of tissues properly, and stay away from infected people because conjunctivitis is highly contagious.
It suggested that people should stop touching their eyes to reduce the spread of the infection. If afflicted, stay inside and see a doctor before returning to normal activities. The recommendation recommended that people who use contact lenses follow proper care instructions, routinely change their lenses and cases, keep shared areas clean, and avoid swimming pools.
The condition is “self-limiting,” according to the experts, and the recovery time depends on each patient’s immune system.
They noted that the monsoon’s high humidity and wet circumstances are perfect for the fast proliferation of whichever viruses or bacteria are responsible for these diseases. They also said that “any person of any age group can become infected with this flu,” therefore it’s important to avoid contacting your eyes, particularly with unclean hands, in order to prevent the transmission of the virus.
Watery discharge in the eyes, redness, congestion, photophobia, and haemorrhages in the superficial layer of the eye are claimed to be symptoms of this influenza.
Doctors have reassured patients that eye flu is usually harmless and treatable with a few simple measures, including the use of over-the-counter eye drops and antibacterial drugs.
They cautioned that severe instances of bacterial conjunctivitis might cause visual loss if not addressed. (KNO)
