93 Cases of Red Eye Disease Detected in O'Yadao district, Ratanakkiri Province

Cambodia News Phnom Penh: On 25 September 2023, the Ministry of Health reported 93 cases of infectious red eye disease in Pak Touch village, Pak Nhay commune, O'Yadao district, Ratanakkiri province. The Department of Infectious Diseases confirmed the outbreak on the same day and traced it back to the funeral of a relative in a village in Vietnam attended by eight villagers from the affected area on September 14, 2023.

The Department of Infectious Diseases, in coordination with the Emergency Response Team, Provincial Health Department, Provincial Referral Hospital, and Health Center, immediately provided treatment, care, and education to patients upon receiving the report from Som Thom Health Center on the night of September 23, 2023. The contagious disease is transmitted from person to person through direct contact, coughing or sneezing, or by touching infected objects and then touching the eyes.

To prevent transmission, health officials advise regular handwashing, avoiding touching the eyes, not sharing personal items, and using eye drops. While most cases of conjunctivitis are mild and clear up within 7 to 14 days without treatment, some cases can take two to three weeks or more to heal. Eye drops or creams can shorten the duration of infection, reduce complications, and prevent further spread of the disease.

Here in Saigon, we received a text from the Ministry of Health about pink eye, followed up with a memo from my apartment complex's management office a day later. Looks like the outbreak is regional!

Alex wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 1:19 pm What's the eye drop of choice - available in Cambodia - to treat this?

If it’s bacterial conjunctivitis, tobradex works quite well, as it’s an antibiotic with a corticosteroid to provide relief from irritation.

If it’s viral conjunctivitis (less serious), plain dexamethasone should alleviate pain and itchiness (I’m
NOT a doctor though).

Little_Vicious wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 3:58 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 1:19 pm What's the eye drop of choice - available in Cambodia - to treat this?

If it’s bacterial conjunctivitis, tobradex works quite well, as it’s an antibiotic with a corticosteroid to provide relief from irritation.

If it’s viral conjunctivitis (less serious), plain dexamethasone should alleviate pain and itchiness (I’m
NOT a doctor though).

Tobradrex is first call, for infections with a lot of pus they will prescribe oral Ciprofloxacin.

Alex wrote: ↑Tue Sep 26, 2023 1:19 pm What's the eye drop of choice - available in Cambodia - to treat this?

What are Moxifloxacin Eye Drops Used for?
Moxifloxacin eye drops are used to treat bacterial eye infections. It's commonly prescribed as a bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye) treatment.

Other uses include treatment for bacterial keratitis and preventing eye infections from cataract surgery and refractive eye surgery. It may be used for other purposes. Ask your healthcare professional for complete information about using this medicine.

Which Bacteria Does Moxifloxacin Treat?
Moxifloxacin effectively treats a wide range of bacteria. It’s a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic that’s especially effective against:2

Streptococci bacteria
Staphylococci bacteria
It may be used to treat infections caused by other types of bacteria.

How Quickly Do Moxifloxacin Eye Drops Start Working?
That may vary depending on the individual and the particular eye infection being treated. Studies show that 66% to 69% of people receiving moxifloxacin for bacterial conjunctivitis are cured by the fourth day.2

Another study found that 56% of people taking moxifloxacin were cured after three days, and 94% were cured by day seven.6