Pink Eye epidemic greets school openings
As thousands of students returned to the classrooms today, medical personnel are warning parents of a painful, itchy condition. Approximately three weeks ago, health officials began noticing an increase in the number of persons afflicted with conjunctivitis, locally referred to as pink eye. The condition is not only painful, but it’s also highly contagious and the Ministry of Health is asking parents to keep their children home until all symptoms are gone. Earlier today, News 5’s Jacqueline Woods spoke to Ophthalmologist, Dr. Victoriano Valdez on steps you can take to lessen your chances of getting infected.
Dr. Victoriano Valdez, Ophthalmologist
“I am for example seeing in this clinic, the three types. The ones that produce haemorrhages, the ones that produce fever and pharyngitis and the other common one, which is basically the less harmful. But the numbers have increased. For example, last week I saw, at least, on a daily basis at least two or three. And I can imagine that in the general clinics, for example Matron Roberts, where you have more patients attending, probably the incidence is much, much higher. I have been called by various colleagues to give them my advice on it.”
“Basically, what we see commonly are the ones that are contagious in nature, the Pharyngoconjunctival Fever, which is one that affects the throat, the conjunctiva and it gives you symptoms similar to flu, with fever as well. These are most common in children. The other one is what we call epidemic terato conjunctivitis, this one basically produces redness as well, but it does not produce the systemic complications of fever or throat infections. Then the other types that are basically unapparent, which means that the is going to be very mild and it doesn’t cause any major predisposition to redness, basically minor irritations of the eye.”
“So if a child has arrived to school with a redness that is very irritating to that child, with secretions, basically yellow, whitish secretions, abundant tearing, discomfort to the sun or even redness with blood oozing out, then that child should be removed from that environment so that it does not continue contaminating.”
Valdez says if you suspect that you or a member of your family has pink eye, you should not try to treat the condition yourself and see a doctor. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health advises you to wash hands thoroughly and as often as possible, especially after coming in contact with someone who is infected.
