Pink eye on the rise : health authorities
Communicable Disease Control Department on Monday warned people to avoid coming into close contact with anyone suffering from pink eye disease or Conjunctivitis.
The warning has been issued in a bid to prevent disease from further spreading.
A total of 115,255 cases of conjunctivitis have been reported during the first eight months of 2014. Most of the affected cases live in southern provinces.
Most of the affected cases live in southern provinces including Ranong and Pattani. Infection usually spikes during the rainy season.
Conjunctivitis causes the white of the eye to take on a pink or red colour. Signs and symptoms of pink eye can vary but typically include redness or swelling of the white of the eye, discharge of pus and itching. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis can be easily spread from person to person and can cause epidemics.
With proper care, the illness can usually be treated in one week. In a bid to prevent the spread of pink eye, infected people and those around them are instructed to avoid touching or rubbing their eyes, wash hands often with soap and warm water and avoid sharing makeup, contact lenses or eyeglasses.
