Chennai: Around 4,500 cases of conjunctivitis are being reported in government hospitals across Tamil Nadu, said Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Monday. Conjunctivitis is commonly known as Madras eye.
According to a report on The Indian Express, the Minister visited the patients who were receiving treatment for Madras eye at the government eye hospital at Egmore on Monday. After the visit, Subramanian said that every day 80-100 people are affected by the infection in Chennai.
The Minister said that the state has 90 hospitals across the state apart 10 government eye hospitals in Chennai. He said that Salem and Dharmapuri have the highest infections.
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From the onset of monsoon, 1.5 lakh people have been treated for Madras eye but none of them lost vision, he said.
Listing the symptoms of the infection, Ma Subramanian said, redness in the eyes, swelling, tearing and itchiness are some of the common symptoms and people with such symptoms should isolate themselves and avoid going outside.
The infected people should also refrain from touching or rubbing their eyes. They should also avoid self-medication, the Minister said.
Ma Subramanian also said that people should consult a doctor and undergo treatment as suggested by them.
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The affected patients should also use the prescribed drops for three or four days and later dispose of the drops, he said adding that the same drops should not be used by other family members.
The Minister also requested the people not to panic and he also assured them that there was enough stock of medicines in government hospitals and Tamil Nadu Medical Service Corporation warehouses.
The Health Department is also undertaking efforts to spread awareness on eye infection at eye hospitals across Tamil Nadu.