Mumbai sees 20% rise in conjunctivitis cases; Delhi, Gujarat, Kolkata, others affected with ‘pink eye’

As monsoon has arrived in India, it has brought along with it several diseases, including the much-feared conjunctivitis, or ‘pink eye’.

Now, Mumbai has had to grapple with both flood-like situations and a rising case of conjunctivitis, which has seen a 15-20% surge among adults and children in recent days.

The rising cases of conjunctivitis have also been seen in other places such as New Delhi, Kolkata, Vadodara, Bhubaneswar, and Arunachal Pradesh. Most of the people suffering from the condition, which has been helped by the monsoon conditions, are children.

In a webinar held on Wednesday where ophthalmologists from several Indian cities such as Kolkata and Bhubaneswar took part, it was observed that certain places of the country have seen conjunctivitis cases rise to an ‘epidemic level’, as per a report by The Times of India.

As per the report, the doctors in Mumbai have agreed with the conclusion, even though they declined to use the term ‘epidemic’. As per Dr Madhavi Jeste, consultant ophthalmologist at S L Raheja Hospital, there has been a 10-15% rise in conjunctivitis cases during the monsoon time as compared to other seasons.

Ophthalmologist Dr Arjun Ahuja, who said that he treating 30 conjunctivitis patients at a government hospital’s outpatient department, said, “It is mostly viral and self-resolving, but complications can be expected if the virus penetrates the cornea.”

Most conjunctivitis cases viral in nature; 40% affected are children

Dr Ahuja said that the rising cases of conjunctivitis in Mumbai and other places are mostly adenoviral conjunctivitis, as the symptoms include fever, cold, runny nose, and fatigue.

There are mainly four types of conjunctivitis infections – bacterial, viral, allergic, and toxic.

“Conjunctivitis, commonly referred to as ‘Pink eye’, is an infection of the Conjunctiva in the eye and typically increases during the monsoon every year. There have been incessant rains, and many areas have experienced floods, contributing to the widespread prevalence of the infection. Almost every second patient coming to the OPD is suffering from Conjunctivitis,” Dr Priya Singh, an ophthalmologist, told ABP News.

Most of the people who are reporting conjunctivitis problems – up to 40% — are children. “It is targeting every age group be it young, adults, Senior citizens but nowadays we are seeing more of kids and children coming to us with such symptoms of eye flu and it is advised to them and their parents to follow the necessary prevention tips and be safe,” Dr Parul Sharma, Director & HOD, Ophthalmology, Max Hospital, Gurgaon, told IndiaTimes.

The disease spreads through direct contact, such as through droplet exchange, or through indirect contact, such as using shared towels, pillows, et cetera. However, contrary to a popular myth, it does not spread by looking at an infected person.