Some simple Basic steps needed to treat Apollo
After getting caught up in Apollo pallava i decided to take my time to do a little research. I followed the advice i got and it worked...I just thought it would be nice to share since this is the season of Apollo and it is spreading like wild fire...so many persons may be experiencing similar situation.
The Conjuctiva
The conjunctiva is a thin, transparent mucous membrane, which lines the inner surface of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white part of the eye). The conjunctiva contains glands which produce secretions that help to keep the eyes moist, and antibodies, which reduce infection.
Conjuctivitis
Conjunctivitis means ‘inflammation of the conjunctiva’, and the commonest cause is infection by viruses or bacteria. Conjunctivitis can also be due to chemical irritants, traditional eye remedies or allergy. It is usual for both eyes to be affected in infectious cases. The patient notices that the eyes are red and uncomfortable, and there is discharge which may make the eyelids stick together in the morning. The vision is usually not affected.
On examination the eyelids may be slightly swollen, the eyes are red, and there may be some visible discharge. The cornea should be bright, and the pupils should be round, regular and react to light. Conjunctivitis due to infection occurs at all ages, but some of the less common causes affect particular age groups
Several different viruses can cause conjunctivitis. Some, such as entero- and adenoviruses, can spread rapidly through communities leading to epidemics of conjunctivitis (e.g. Apollo red eye), while others primarily cause skin infections (molluscum contagiosum, herpes infection), and the eye can be infected if the eyelids are involved.
Entero- or adenoviral conjunctivitis
This is an epidemic form of conjunctivitis which almost always affects both eyes. The patient may complain of a foreign body sensation, with watering, discharge, redness, and swelling of the lids. They may also complain of the eyes being sensitive to light, with blurred vision. The eyes appear red, with discharge, but the cornea and pupil are usually normal. In severe cases there may be small haemorrhages in the conjunctiva. The patient may also complain of upper respiratory tract symptoms and other generalized symptoms (sore throat, fever and headache). The eye infection lasts 7–14 days, and usually gets better on its own. The condition is very contagious: health workers should wash their hands after examining a patient and disinfect the instruments they have used.
Pink eyes
Treatment
- Clean with a clean warm washcloth: There is no specific treatment for viral conjunctivitis, and the condition gets better on its own. To immediately ease itching and clean the eye use clean warm towel to clean the eyes.. Gently rub from the top down to get all the gunk out, and switch to different parts of the cloth. Make sure you use clean clothes each time you do this to avoid contamination.
- Using Antibiotic Eye drops: Antibiotic eye drops prevent secondary infection from bacteria, and tetracycline eye ointment can be soothing. Drops are a necessary treatment so you have to do it regularly. No matter how tired you are it is important to always follow your doctor’s prescribed regimen. Topical steroid eye drops should never be given for conjunctivitis due to infection.
- Good Hygiene:
- The patient should be told that the condition is very infectious, that they should not share face towels,
- Wash their hands regularly. In parts of the world where traditional eye remedies are commonly used, the patient should be advised not to use traditional remedies and needs to be told that the infection will get better.
- Avoid Sharing eye drops and never allow the tip of the eye drop to touch the eye
- Even when the conjunctivitis seems to have cleared, people who have had it should be quarantined or stay away from public places for some time till it is no longer contagious
Source: International Centre for Eye Health via PubMed
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