Belgaum: Conjunctivitis is spreading in the district. Close to 200 cases are being reported every day in the city alone.

The infection, commonly known as "pink eye" is spreading in the city and rural parts of the district. There are reports of the infection spreading to adjoining districts also.

Though there at least three types of the infection, the cases reported here are mainly viral conjunctivitis with watery discharge, irritation and redness in eyes. According to senior eye surgeon from the city, Suresh B. Kulkarni, who is receiving at least 10 infected families every day, though the origin of the virus is yet to be fully established, it normally attacks soon after monsoon showers, typically in May and October. Some consider the infection to be part of chikungunya. Individuals coming into direct contact with infected persons are also getting affected.

Self-limiting

However, the disease is self-limiting and lasts for only seven days. He says the infection this year started from the coastal belts of Goa and started spreading towards eastern areas, including Belgaum and Dharwad districts, besides parts of Savantwadi in Maharashtra.

People often mistake infection to one eye as conjunctivitis, he says. If one eye is affected, the reason will not be conjunctivitis since the disease affects both eyes, he says.

Caution

Advising people against sharing o towels, re-use of handkerchiefs, shaking of hands with infected persons, he also warned against self-medication. He said many infected persons were approaching medical stores and buying steroids suggested by salesmen, which was injurious to eyes. The best way was to consult a doctor, he said.

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