Surging conjunctivitis cases in schools due to heavy rains put kids at risk. The blog provides practical tips for parents to safeguard their children from the highly contagious eye flu infection.
Types of Conjunctivitis Spreading
The current conjunctivitis outbreak is mainly due to acute viral infections, which are self-limiting and typically resolve within 1-2 weeks. Common symptoms include red, itchy, and sticky eyes, along with swollen eyelids; some cases may exhibit bacterial infections with yellow or green discharge.
Why Children Are More At Risk?
Children are particularly vulnerable to conjunctivitis due to their increased physical activity and tendency to stay in groups, such as at school including regular classes and school trips or parks. Their frequent exposure to dirt and germs, coupled with the habit of touching their eyes, enhances the risk of transmission.
What you can do as a parent?
1. Hand Hygiene
Emphasize the importance of regular handwashing to your children. Clean hands reduce the risk of transmitting germs, as eye flu can spread through contaminated hands.
2. Avoid Touching Eyes & Sanitize belongings
Regularly sanitize eyeglasses, contact lenses, and items that touch the eyes, and teach children not to frequently rub or touch their eyes to minimize the risk of infection.
3. Proper Use of Tissues
Encourage your child to use tissues while sneezing or coughing to limit exposure to airborne viruses.
5. Maintain Social Distance
Advise your child to maintain a safe distance from peers displaying symptoms of conjunctivitis to reduce transmission.
6. Seek Medical Attention
Seek prompt medical attention if your child shows signs of eye flu, preventing complications and further spread.
To summarize
To protect children’s eye health during the ongoing eye flu outbreak in schools, parents must promote hand hygiene, discourage eye touching, use tissues properly, clean personal belongings, maintain social distance, and seek timely medical attention, collectively working to prevent conjunctivitis transmission and ensure their well-being.
