In recent days, Da Nang has seen a significant increase in the number of cases of conjunctivitis, otherwise known as pinkeye, and about 50% of the victims are children.

Although the number of infected patients in the city is lower than this time last year, there have been some cases with severe complications which have required hospital admission for treatment.

The city’s Eye Hospital reported that it has been receiving over 200 cases of conjunctivitis per month, but there have been 124 new cases in just the last 10 days.  Therefore, the hospital has had set up more examination tables and extend its opening hours for examinations to 12 noon instead of 11am every day in order to deal with the patient pressure.

The head of the hospital’s Eye Department, Dr Nguyen Van Khoi, said that pinkeye often clears up within 7 to 10 days.  Although it is usually benign and easily treated, pinkeye-infected people should seek treatment as early as possible and comply with their therapy in order to reduce discomfort and avoid complications such as corneal abrasion.

Dr Khoi advised that local residents should wash their hands often with antibacterial soap and not share their face cloths with others.  He also warned that infected people should cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze or cough to prevent viral and bacterial pinkeye from spreading.

In addition, he recommended that people should wash their eyes with saline eye drops every day.  He noted that pinkeye patients should not arbitrarily purchase eye drops to treat themselves without advice from a doctor because eye drops containing corticosteroid can cause serious damage to a patient's eyes.