AIIMS witnessing 100 conjunctivitis patients a day, most cases mild

Dr JS Titiyal, the chief of the centre, said almost 100 cases of conjunctivitis are being reported a day. “Almost every alternate year there is an epidemic of keratoconjunctivitis (an inflammatory process that involves both the conjunctiva and the superficial cornea) and mainly, it is adenovirus only with different strains.

“All the cases we have cultured this time have adenovirus. Very few cases have superadded bacterial infection like staphylococcus… Almost 99 percent of cases are coming with adenovirus,” said Dr Titiyal, adding that while entire northern India is seeing a surge, the numbers are likely to go down within a week.

He said that experts from the institute will keep these adenovirus strains and subsequently, analysis will be carried out to identify which exact strain was causing the epidemic this year.

At Safdarjung Hospital, around 80-100 cases have been reported over the last three days, said Dr Anuj Mehta, Head of the Ophthalmology department, adding the patients are arriving with mild to moderate symptoms.

In Okhla’s Holy Family Hospital, more than 50 percent of eye OPD patients are reporting conjunctivitis. Medical Superintendent Dr Sumit Ray said that out of 70-80 patients coming each day for the last one week, almost 40-45 are of conjunctivitis.

The condition was similar at Apollo Indraprastha Hospital where most of the conjunctivitis cases appeared to be viral with both adults and minors affected. Dr Ashu Aggrawal, senior Ophthalmologist, said, “Washing hands frequently and refraining from touching eyes again and again is the best preventive method one can follow.”