‘Madras eye’ is back, with fever, cough
TNN | Feb 27, 2020, 05.20 AM IST
CHENNAI: Several people are walking into eye clinics with red, itchy eyes and opthalmologists say the season for conjunctivitis has just begun.
While adults complain of watery eyes, children are showing symptoms of fever, cold and sore throat, along with conjunctivitis.
“The viral disease, unlike what we saw last year, isn’t serious. Most people don’t require medication. It settles down in five days. But this time we are seeing many children with flu-like symptoms,” said opthalmologist Dr V Vasumathi of Radhatri Nethralaya. “They may need no medication for the eye, unless there is an associated bacterial infection causing eye inflammation or vision disruption,” she said.
Childcare specialists call the condition pharyngoconjunctival fever. “We see this often in school children. It is caused by a virus, usually the adenovirus, and is contagious,” said Dr S Balasubramanian, medical director of Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust. This type of fever peaks in summer, particularly when children are in camps and swimming pools, he said. Some children may also complain of fatigue and and upset stomach.
Most patients are treated as outpatient and advised to stay athome. They are askedto come back if they notice photophobia (unable to see light), swelling of the eye, vision disruption or a cloudy cornea. “The viral disease is contagious and can spread quickly in classrooms or closed office spaces,” said Dr S Soundari, head of medical services, Agarwal Eye Hospital. “We are commonly seeing at least seven to eight people a day, compared to the usual one or two, or none,” she said.
TNN | Feb 27, 2020, 05.20 AM IST
CHENNAI: Several people are walking into eye clinics with red, itchy eyes and opthalmologists say the season for conjunctivitis has just begun.
While adults complain of watery eyes, children are showing symptoms of fever, cold and sore throat, along with conjunctivitis.
“The viral disease, unlike what we saw last year, isn’t serious. Most people don’t require medication. It settles down in five days. But this time we are seeing many children with flu-like symptoms,” said opthalmologist Dr V Vasumathi of Radhatri Nethralaya. “They may need no medication for the eye, unless there is an associated bacterial infection causing eye inflammation or vision disruption,” she said.
Childcare specialists call the condition pharyngoconjunctival fever. “We see this often in school children. It is caused by a virus, usually the adenovirus, and is contagious,” said Dr S Balasubramanian, medical director of Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust. This type of fever peaks in summer, particularly when children are in camps and swimming pools, he said. Some children may also complain of fatigue and and upset stomach.
Most patients are treated as outpatient and advised to stay athome. They are askedto come back if they notice photophobia (unable to see light), swelling of the eye, vision disruption or a cloudy cornea. “The viral disease is contagious and can spread quickly in classrooms or closed office spaces,” said Dr S Soundari, head of medical services, Agarwal Eye Hospital. “We are commonly seeing at least seven to eight people a day, compared to the usual one or two, or none,” she said.
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