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OPINION

By Charity Mutesi

Kampala City is currently witnessing a surge in cases of a peculiar eye condition commonly known as Red eye. The eye illness also referred to as conjunctivitis, imposes discomfort, swelling, pain, irritation, isolation and stigma among others to the afflicted individuals.

District data from public facilities shows over 5,000 people have so far contracted the illness in Kampala alone since March 13, 2024. The data are from patients who have presented themselves to public facilities with the majority being school-going children.

The disease is caused by a virus or bacteria. It is spread among persons through direct contact by touching the eyes of infected persons or contaminated surfaces then touching your eyes, or indirectly through sharing of personal items such as beddings, clothes, towels, and topical eye medications.  It usually presents with an abrupt onset of eye pain, swelling of the eyelids, foreign body sensation or irritation, excessive tearing and eye discharge.

Frequent handwashing, refraining from touching the eyes unnecessarily, avoiding sharing personal items, and regularly disinfecting surfaces are key precautions to minimize the risk of transmission. Infected individuals should use clean, warm compress to alleviate swelling and discomfort. Medical attention should be sought if symptoms persist for more than two weeks.

A resident of Makindye, one of the infected individuals, reveals: “The red eye illness has been challenging. The constant feeling of discomfort, as if there is sand stuck in my eyes has disrupted my daily life and impeded my ability to carry out the simplest tasks for five straight days. The itching and burning sensation caused immense frustration and distress,” she shares.

Beyond the physical pain, the social implication of this illness is also challenging. “Having this red eye illness, a highly contagious infection has led to isolation and stigma from others. People look at you with fear and suspicion. This has created a sense of loneliness and helplessness, friends and family are reluctant to interact with me, fearing to contract the illness. It feels like am in a parallel world,” another resident of Luzira explains.

On his part, a primary school teacher in Rubaga division, says six days ago his eyes began to itch persistently while he was at work. As a teacher of a local primary school, he initially dismissed it as a minor irritation, blaming the dusty classroom environment. However, the irritation grew worse, accompanied by subtle pinkish tinge in his eyes that later escalated to an intense burning red hue.

Desperate for relief, he sought relief in traditional remedies, utilizing his urine referred to him by a friend. As time went by, the burning sensation only intensified. I resorted to seek for care from a doctor after which he explained to me it would disappear after 5 days to two weeks,” he reveals.

Understanding the red eye illness

The U.S Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refers to conjunctivitis as the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane covering the white part of the eye and lining the inner eyelids.

What causes the disease?

Conjunctivitis can be caused by irritation or an infection, and the pathogen can be viral or bacterial. The current outbreak in Kampala is viral and is very contagious. It has resulted into mass outbreaks in schools, prisons and hostels due to frequent interactions.  The U.S CDC explains that the disease rarely causes long-term complications to the eyes. It is usually self-limiting and therefore needs not to cause any alarm.

How does it spread?

The illness is spread by touching the eyes of infected persons or contaminated surfaces then touching your eyes. U.S CDC adds that having contact with infectious tears, eye discharge, fecal matter, or respiratory discharges can contaminate hands. Viral conjunctivitis can also spread by large respiratory tract droplets.  

As viral conjunctivitis can be highly contagious, infected individuals should be counseled to prevent transmission including washing hands frequently, using separate towels, and avoiding close contact with others during the period of contagion,” the U.S CDC says further pointing out that most cases are self-limited and do not require antimicrobial treatment.

How does conjunctivitis present?

Symptoms include red eyes, swelling of the eyelids, increased tear production, itching eyes and eyelids, as well as pus production and crusting (discharge from the eye dries on the lids, lashes, or corners of the eye, creating a sticky effect) of the lids and lashes. Viral conjunctivitis may also come with flu-like symptoms, and a thinner, more watery discharge from the eye.

How to prevent and manage conjunctivitis

While conjunctivitis often resolves without treatment, when symptoms persist for more than two weeks, medical intervention becomes crucial. Viral conjunctivitis requires symptom management and proper hygiene practices to prevent further spread.

Frequent handwashing, refraining from touching the eyes unnecessarily, avoiding sharing personal items, and regularly disinfecting surfaces are key precautions to minimize the risk of transmission.

Infected individuals should use clean, warm compress to alleviate swelling and discomfort. Regularly cleaning the eye area with a gentle saline solution aids in removing the discharge and speeding up the healing process. Ensuring proper hydration, resting the eyes, and avoiding exposure to irritants like smoke or wind are vital considerations for home care.

Contributing factors to sudden increase of red eyes infections

Various factors could have contributed to the increase in conjunctivitis infections, including environmental changes. Previous outbreaks coincide with the hot and humid season with higher likelihood of transmission in crowded areas.

Control efforts

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has been closely monitoring the situation and has initiated immediate measures to address the spread of this eye illness. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has urged the public to take precautionary measures, including washing of hands, to prevent the spread of the highly infectious red eye disease.

During this period, it is important for all citizens to remain calm and co-operative with health care providers and public health authorities. Let us remember that the power to overcome the eye illness is in our collective behavior, and adherence to the guidance provided by health care professionals.

The author is a Field Epidemiology Fellow with the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health