Communities on Alert As Seasonal Diseases Hit Critical Levels

Sohaib Khalid Hashmi

Lahore: Every year, during changing weather, countrymen get struck by seasonal diseases like dengue, pink eye and respiratory congestion. It direly needs a comprehensive precautionary measures plan to avert these diseases.

The virus and bacteria causing this disease become active with the weather changing from summer to monsoon and then autumn and vice versa, hitting volleys of people.

Spreading almost every year on a small scale, the pink eye disease this year emerged like an epidemic which affected over 130,000 citizens across Punjab in just one month.

Bahawalpur emerged as the most affected district in Punjab. Similarly, Lahore and Rawalpindi districts are also experiencing a critical situation.

Viral conjunctivitis is often caused by common viruses surfacing with the common cold or adenoviruses, said Professor Arshad. It can easily spread through contact with an infected person or contaminated objects and can be associated with respiratory infections or a sore throat.

Dr Arshad told that there are four main types of pink eye (conjunctivitis): viral, bacterial, allergic and irritant. Viral conjunctivitis usually affects both the eyes and causes watery discharge, redness, itching and a gritty feeling in the eyes.

It may also cause swollen lymph nodes near the ears or throat and typically resolves on its own within one to two weeks, he added.

Eye Specialist explained that the pink eye infection can affect people of all ages and occurs when the conjunctiva– a thin membrane that covers the white part of the eyes and the inner surface of the eyelids– becomes inflamed or infected. This causes the blood vessels in the eyes to become more visible, giving them a pink or reddish appearance.

For bacterial conjunctivitis, it usually stems from Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria that enter the eyes through direct contact with infected hands or daily-use objects. Bacterial conjunctivitis requires antibiotic treatment to clear the infection and prevent further eye damage.

In the case of allergic conjunctivitis, it occurs in response to allergens like pollen, dust, or pet dander that irritate the eyes, particularly in people with a history of allergies or asthma, Prof Arshad added.

Managing allergic conjunctivitis involves avoiding allergen exposure and using antihistamines or anti-inflammatory eye drops, said Eye Expert. Irritant conjunctivitis caused by exposure to smoke, smog, or chemicals can damage the eye’s surface due to foreign bodies like sand or dirt.

The most common cure for this disease is flushing the irritant from the eyes with clean water or saline solution and using lubricating eye drops. Its treatment depends on its cause and severity.

As for viral conjunctivitis, there is no specific treatment and it usually resolves on its own. Warm compresses, artificial tears and hygiene practices can help alleviate symptoms and prevent their spread.

However, bacterial conjunctivitis requires antibiotic treatment with prescribed eye drops or ointments, completing the full course even if symptoms improve.

Controlling pollution and keeping villages cleaner and more hygienic are equally important to stop these diseases from becoming epidemics.

University of Nebraska Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology Dr Jawad has advised using natural tear treatments marketed under different brands or cold compresses (clean water and cloth) to get relief.

Unless your doctor thinks that this is a bacterial infection, using eye drops with antibiotics could not give you any benefit but increase the chances of anti-microbial resistance (AMR), a major global health challenge at this moment, he cautioned.

Remember, anything you are putting in your eye, you need to ensure that it is safe, as the eye is a sensitive organ of our body, Prof Jawad added. He further advised that people with weakened immune systems (cancer, HIV, and other medical conditions requiring long-term treatment) should also consult their doctor early.

As Pakistan has a huge disease load of diabetes and halting vision loss is critical for patients’ wellbeing, there is also a need to ascertain common reasons for the disease outbreak and fix those problems, further said Epidemiologist.

The Punjab government has taken several measures to control this disease awareness campaign, issuing special instructions to the health department for patient treatment and temporarily closing down schools for the protection of school-going children.

Since most people take these diseases as well as strictures issued by authorities as casual, some kind of penalising mechanism for the violators must be there to mitigate the spread of these diseases.

Sohaib Khalid Hashmi is a Lahore-based APP correspondent, and the feature is released by APP management.