Mekong Delta: Urgently prevent and control pink eye disease

SGGPO September 25, 2023 13:21

Many localities in the Mekong Delta are experiencing a sharp outbreak of pink eye in children, with at times more than 1,000 cases recorded per day. Localities are currently focusing on preventing, combating and controlling the disease.

Children examined and treated at Soc Trang Province Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital

According to SGGP reporters, at the Soc Trang Province Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, the number of children coming to examine and treat pink eye in recent days has been very high. The number of cases has increased sharply, concentrated in educational institutions.

Dr. Chung Tan Dinh, Director of the Soc Trang Province Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, said that from September 1 to September 20, the hospital received and treated more than 220 cases of children with symptoms of red eyes, watery eyes, sticky discharge, difficulty opening eyes, fever and itchy eyes... Some severe cases had to be hospitalized for treatment. At its peak, in the 3 days from September 18 to 20, the hospital received 119 cases of pink eye.

Meanwhile in Ben Tre , the report of the Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) said that from September 11 to 19, the whole province recorded 4,718 cases at 301 educational institutions, most in the districts: Ba Tri (910 cases), Chau Thanh (761 cases), Mo Cay Nam (675 cases), Mo Cay Bac (559 cases)... Notably, the Provincial CDC recorded the number of cases exceeding 1,000 cases on September 19 alone.

CDC Ben Tre recommends that people proactively prevent and control pink eye by measures such as washing hands with soap, not rubbing eyes, nose, mouth, not sharing personal items to limit contact with sick or suspected sick people. In case of sick or suspected sick cases, they should stay home from school/work to avoid infecting people around them and spreading to the community.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine of the Ministry of Health, pink eye is an eye infection, usually caused by bacteria, viruses or allergic reactions, the typical symptom is red eyes. To date, there is no vaccine to prevent the disease, no specific treatment and people who have had pink eye can still be infected again just a few months after recovering from the disease.

A preschool teacher in Nga Nam town, Soc Trang province cleans toys for children.

Dr. Chung Tan Dinh added: "Pink eye disease is very easy to catch, spread in the community and cause epidemics. The disease is contagious but usually benign, leaving few sequelae, but greatly affects the daily life, study and play of children. There are cases where the disease lasts for a long time, causing complications that affect vision later. Therefore, parents need to equip themselves with knowledge to prevent the disease well for children."

Faced with the outbreak of the disease in the province, Deputy Director of the Department of Health of Ben Tre province, Duong Thi Nhu Ngoc, requested medical examination and treatment facilities in the area to strengthen early detection of suspected cases, prescribe and guide care for mild cases, and provide outpatient treatment; at the same time, promptly isolate suspected cases. District and city medical centers have fully prepared medicines and chemicals, ready for activities to prevent and control pink eye epidemic to minimize the risk of widespread spread.

On September 21, Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province Tran Van Lau also signed and issued an urgent dispatch on strengthening the prevention and control of pink eye, dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease. Accordingly, units and localities are required to focus on directing drastic measures to prevent and control epidemics, especially pink eye, dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease; and at the same time, be responsible to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province if the epidemic breaks out uncontrollably.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dbscl-khan-truong-phong-chong-benh-dau-mat-do-post706995.html