Thousands Contact Eye Infection in North Andhra, ICMR names it adenovirus

Visakhapatnam: Thousands of people, mostly school-going children, have contracted viral conjunctivitis or what’s called pink eye in north Andhra region.

The infection is more pronounced in Anakapalle and Visakhapatnam districts, said superintendent of Regional Eye Hospital, Visakhapatnam Dr Viswamitra.

The superintendent told Deccan Chronicle that the current outbreak was primarily caused by adenovirus, which was identified by ICMR, New Delhi. “This is a common virus responsible for conjunctivitis. No specific antiviral medications are effective. The infection gets resolved within a week to 10 days,” she said.

Only 10 to 15 per cent of the infected persons were seeking help from the hospitals. “Every day, we are getting 20 to 30 patients with eye infections for the last 10 days. The number is increasing,’’ she said.

She said a special cell has been opened in the regional eye hospital where specific treatment for the infection is available and free medicines given.

Advising people not to buy eye drops from medical shops, she said over-the-counter (OTC) medications contained high-dose steroids.

“These drugs may interfere with the delicate development of the eyes, potentially leading to complications such as corneal opacity and loss of corneal transparency. Severe cases may even require surgical intervention,” Dr Viswamirta said.

She said individuals with known allergies or sensitivities to certain components in OTC medications may experience allergic reactions ranging from mild redness to severe swelling.

She also advised people to not rub their eyes if they itched. Wash the eyes with clean and warm water for mild itching. For children, she recommended that they avoid crowded places, refrain from sharing items such as towel or napkin, avoid long hours in direct sun, use protective eyewear and drink lots of water.