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Seeing red?

Conjunctivitis is a highly infective condition and must be treated immediately

CAUSE FOR CONCERN Red eye spreads rapidly

Many decades ago, conjunctivitis became an epidemic in Madras (Chennai), and since then has come to be known by this unique term Madras Eye.

Epidemic conjunctivitis is a fast spreading viral conjunctivitis due to infection by Adeno- virus. The virus multiplies and spreads in humid and cold weather conditions.

The virus affects the eyes, making the lids swell, patchy haemorrhages under the conjunctiva, which take a long time to disappear. When a person frequently wipes the eye with a handkerchief, or touches the eye often, a bacterial infection also sets in leading to thick yellowish white discharge.

Since this is a highly infective condition, those affected by it must wear dark glasses and stay away from public places for a day or two to prevent it from spreading to others.

One should also take care to isolate oneself from family members and avoid sharing the same towels, handkerchiefs and pillows and wash these items separately. Use sterile cotton/wipes/swabs to clean the eye and then dispose these carefully.

One should consult an eye doctor and not buy over the counter eye medications directly from the pharmacy or use the same medication prescribed to another member of the family. The eye can be red and inflamed in acute glaucoma (a blinding eye disease), Herpes infection, trachoma, allergic eye conditions, injuries and when a foreign body enters the eye. The dictum is "if the eye is red, consult your eye specialist immediately" for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

RAJINI KANTHA

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