Pinkeye, also called conjunctivitis, has spread widely in many provinces and cities, with the number of patients hospitalized due to the disease on the rise since early September. Dr. Trinh Bich Ngoc, deputy director of the Hanoi Eye Hospital, said pinkeye has occurred since the rainy season began in the capital. Currently, the hospital receives 20-25 patients per day. In Ho Chi Minh City, the number of patients with pinkeye has also sharply increased at many hospitals. Huynh Thi Thu Ba, head of the Eye Department at the An Sinh Hospital, said patients with pinkeye accounted for 60-70 percent of the total number of eye patients at the hospital. The hospital now receives more than 20 pinkeye cases every day, and many of them are from the same families. At Nguyen Trai Hospital, Dr. Nguyen Minh Khai, head of the Eye Department, also reported that the hospital receives 20-25 pinkeye patients per day. The same situation was recorded at the Eye Hospital in HCMC, with the number of pinkeye patients increasing by 30 percent from the previous one-two weeks, said Dr. Bui Thi Thu Huong, head of the hospital’s Planning Department. In southern Dong Nai Province, Dr. Cao Trong Nguong, director of the provincial Preventive Health Center, said the disease has recently broken out in two districts, Tan Phu and Dinh Quan. At Dac Lua Preschool in Tan Phu, 23 teachers and students recently came down with the disease at the same time. In the province’s Bien Hoa City, the Dong Nai General Hospital reported that the number of pinkeye patients has risen considerably across all ages. In Central Vietnam, Dr. Doan Van Xien, head of the Eye Department of the Quang Ngai General Hospital, said the number of patients with conjunctivitis has increased by 2-3 times from last month. Over the past week, the hospital has treated about 20 patients with pinkeye every day, accounting for more than 60 percent of the total number of patients with eye problems. Meanwhile, in August the rate was only 30 percent, Xien said.Precautions Pinkeye is redness and inflammation of the clear membranes covering the whites of the eyes and the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids. Pinkeye is most often caused by a virus or by a bacterial infection, although allergies, chemical agents, and underlying diseases can also play a role. As pinkeye is not hard to treat, many patients treat themselves by buying medicine or eyewash at pharmacies, but if they treat the disease incorrectly, they may suffer cornea ulcers and weakened eyesight, said Dr. Trinh Bich Ngoc, deputy director of the Hanoi Eye Hospital. Dr. Pham Ngoc Dong, from the Central Eye Hospital, said pinkeye usually occurs in spring and in the period from July to September, especially in the months with the heaviest rain. Dr. Dong warned that patients with pinkeye should not to treat themselves since they may suffer from complications. “We have seen patients whose eyesight falls 2-3/10 after suffering from pinkeye,” Dong said, adding that pinkeye may be mistaken for other eye diseases so patients with eye problems should see an eye doctor instead of treating themselves. Many patients with pinkeye simply go to pharmacies to purchase drugs to treat themselves, but if those pharmacies sell drugs with corticoid to them, then this is very harmful to patients’ health, Dr. Ngoc said.
More

Vietnam declares 2-day national mourning for former Laotian leader
His death is a great loss to both nations
Read more

Ho Chi Minh City warns of rising HFMD cases
The highest case numbers were reported in Binh Tan District, District 8, and District 6
4 days ago
6 Vietnamese hospitalized in critical condition after suspected methanol poisoning
They consumed over six 500ml bottles of a fruit wine during a group tour
4 days ago
Vietnam responds to steep retaliatory tariffs from US
'Vietnam regrets the United States' decision to impose retaliatory tariffs on Vietnamese exports'
7 hours ago
Vietnam faces earthquake risk despite not being on tectonic belts
The country still faces the risk of significant seismic activity, particularly in the northwest region
10 hours ago
Ho Chi Minh City faces growing challenges from rapidly aging population
The city’s elderly population has been growing quickly since 2017
1 day agoHighlights

Vietnamese trade minister requests US to postpone 46% tariff
The U.S. has been Vietnam’s largest export market for years
Latest news

Vietnamese trade minister requests US to postpone 46% tariff
The U.S. has been Vietnam’s largest export market for years

Phuc Long and the journey of spreading Vietnamese tea to Gen Z
The Vietnamese tea and coffee market is currently witnessing the fusion of tradition and modernity

Belgian king, queen visit war museum, pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City
King Philippe expressed joy at returning to Ho Chi Minh City and witnessing its dynamic development since his first visit in 1994

Ho Chi Minh City police launch 50-day campaign to celebrate 50th Reunification Day
The Ho Chi Minh City Police have launched a special 50-day-and-night campaign from April 1 to May 20 to achieve outstanding results

Vietnam declares 2-day national mourning for former Laotian leader
His death is a great loss to both nations

In Vietnam, missing boy found asleep on 6-meter mango tree after village’s hours-long search
The boy climbed the mango tree to pick fruit and fell fast asleep on the branches

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens has $30.5mn land rent arrears cleared
The Ho Chi Minh City government has converted the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens' land lease into a public land allocation

New industrial cluster with $34.8m investment in Vietnam’s Soc Trang promises 10,000 jobs
Construction began on the 54-hectare project in 2023

Vietnam's property market braces for fallout from US tarrifs
The 46-percent retaliatory tariff is expected to have broad implications for the country’s economy

Experts warn 'AI-written' paper is latest spin on climate change denial
Climate change deniers are pushing an AI-generated paper questioning human-induced warming