Uncover the nationwide surge of conjunctivitis. Stay informed on symptoms and protective measures. Meri Sehat has you covered.

An Eye For An Eye? Conjunctivitis Has Taken The Country By Storm

A. JABBAR DENTAL CLINIC KARACHI

Sadia Khan

Overview

The highly contagious Conjunctivitis aka Pink Eye has spread like wildfire throughout some of the major cities of Pakistan. Nearly 400,000 people across Pakistan have contracted viral conjunctivitis since the start of the year.<a href="#accordion">[8]</a>

A staggering number of 56,000 schools across the nation were shut down to curb the rapid outbreak of Pink Eye after 13,000 new cases surfaced within a single day. There was a marked reduction in the number of cases after this effective albeit temporary measure.<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>&nbsp;On October 15th, The Punjab Primary and Secondary Health Department again reported 2,081 new cases of conjunctivitis in the last 24 hours&nbsp;<a href="#accordion">[9]</a> 
&nbsp;

Understanding Pink Eye

Conjunctivitis, commonly known as Pink Eye, is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is a thin layer that covers our eyeballs and contains tiny blood vessels inside it. When these vessels become inflamed, the eyes start appearing red, hence the name. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;The most commonly noted causes are either infectious (viral and bacterial) or non-infectious (allergens and irritants). The viral and bacterial forms are highly contagious, while<a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/allergic-conjunctivitis"> allergic conjunctivitis </a>is not.<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>

&nbsp;Viral conjunctivitis accounts for almost 75% of the cases of infectious conjunctivitis and most of these are caused by Adenovirus. Most people recover within a week or two without any long-term complications and no specific medications are necessary for recovery.<a href="#accordion">[6]</a>

It appears that this holds true for the outbreak we are observing in Pakistan as well. However, developing viral conjunctivitis can lead to impaired immunity which paves the way for it to eventually develop into a bacterial infection. The situation is further worsened by the pollution, sanitary situation and lack of knowledge about proper <a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/post-coitus-practices-to-adopt-for-good-health-and-hygiene">hygiene</a> practices in the country.<a href="#accordion">[1]</a> 
&nbsp;

Pink eye manifests through various symptoms including:

<ul>
	<li>Redness</li>
	<li>Irritation and itchiness</li>
	<li>Watery eyes (due to excessive tear production)</li>
	<li>Photophobia (sensitivity to light)</li>
	<li>Thick, yellow, or greenish discharge with crusting of eyelids in cases of bacterial conjunctivitis</li>
	<li>Clear discharge in case of viral conjunctivitis</li>
	<li>Gritty sensation in the eye</li>
	<li>Eyelid swelling</li>
	<li>Discomfort while blinking <a href="#accordion">[4]</a> 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

What Has Been Done?

In response to the rising cases of conjunctivitis in Pakistan, the Sindh Health Department has instructed District Health Officers (DHOs) to take immediate action. This serves as both a warning and a call to action for the public to practice strict hygiene to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease <a href="#accordion">[5]</a>. Punjab&rsquo;s Healthcare Department has also released guidelines in response to the rising incidence of pink eye infections throughout various cities in the region <a href="#accordion">[9]</a>. 
&nbsp;

Guidelines and Recommendations

Viral conjunctivitis, especially Adenovirus, spreads through direct contact and respiratory droplets produced when coughing and sneezing. Here are some things all of us can do to help stop the spread: 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Practice proper hand hygiene by handwashing with clean water and using sanitizers whenever possible.</li>
	<li>Avoid touching your face or your eyes.</li>
	<li>Use cold compresses and over-the-counter &quot;natural tears&quot; for symptomatic relief for pain, dryness and gritty sensation in the eyes.</li>
	<li>Protect yourself from direct sunlight, dust and dirt by wearing protective eye gear such as sunglasses.</li>
	<li>Individuals with eye infections should ensure that their clothes and towels are kept separate to prevent transmission.</li>
	<li>Opt for eyeglasses instead of contacts.</li>
	<li>Refrain from using unproven treatments like vitamin eye drops.</li>
	<li>Limit the use of cosmetic eye products, and avoid sharing eye make up.</li>
	<li>Use antibiotic eye drops once a bacterial infection is confirmed.</li>
	<li>Seek immediate medical attention for worsening symptoms such as pus-like discharge.</li>
	<li>Medical attention is also advised for individuals with compromised immune systems such as those with either HIV or diabetes etc.<a href="#accordion">[7]</a> 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

To curtail the rapid spread and dispel prevalent myths, we highly recommend that our healthcare authorities and media organizations implement comprehensive public health strategies. Some of the proposed measures are: 
&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Lessons learned from the effectiveness of hand hygiene campaigns conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic should be revisited.<a href="#accordion">[3]</a></li>
	<li>Healthcare authorities can work with media organizations to spread information about the disease, the current rate of spread and preventative measures. For example, with scrolling tickers on all local channels.</li>
	<li>Easily accessible information on proper handwashing techniques and specific behaviors to avoid can be made available via television broadcasts, official websites, and printed materials like pamphlets, flyers, and public notices.</li>
	<li>Healthcare Authorities can help advise on institutional policies, such as regarding medical leave for affected individuals.</li>
	<li>Adequate hand hygiene resources, such as hand sanitizers and handwashing facilities, should be made available in malls, restaurants and all other public establishments.</li>
</ul>

[1] Bowman, B. V. (n.d.). Mass outbreak of ‘pink eye’ closes 56,000 schools in Pakistan. The Telegraph.

[2] Desk, W. (2023, September 25). Punjab issues safety guidelines as pink eye infection cases swell. Daily Pakistan Global.

[3] Heidary, S. M., Sorouri, S., Naseri, M., Malakoti, N., Movahedinia, S., & Shakeri, F. (2023). An Overview of Existing Evidence for Non-Pharmacological Interventions against COVID-19 Transmission. Medical Education Bulletin, 4(1), 629-648.

[4] Kumar, H., Kumar, R., Sood, P., Belwal, R., Upadhyay, J., Naaz, F., & Kumar, A. (2023). A Review on Most Ophthalmic Viral Disease Conjunctivitis (Eye Flu). Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, 2(4), 96-100.

[5] Sindh health dept issues warning amid rising Pink Eye infections in Karachi. (n.d.). Times of Karachi.

[6] Solano, D., Fu, L., & Czyz, C. N. (2017). Viral conjunctivitis.

[7] Srivastav, Y., Prajapati, A., Singh, V. K., Kumar, M., & Siddiqui, M. A. A review of the eye flu or viral conjunctivitis and its associated current treatment, management and challenges.