Lara Adejoro
An ophthalmologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Lawal Ismail, has warned against using cow dung, urine and sugar solution as cure for conjunctivitis, popularly knowns as ‘apollo’ among the locals.
Ismail, who gave the warning while speaking in an interview with PUNCH HealthWise, also warned against using cow urine, shea butter and breast milk for babies with the condition.
Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin clear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid.
Dr. Lawal said applying unconventional methods is harmful to the eyes.
“The use of urine on the eye is one of the things we call harmful traditional practices. People also apply cow dung, cow urine, shea butter, and breast milk.
“The urine in the bladder itself has its natural microorganism and conjunctivitis is an infection.
“If you now put a microorganism that is normal for the body on one part on another part of the body that is not supposed to be, then it’s going to cause additional havoc.
“There is also the risk of adults possibly putting a gonococcal organism into the eye, which can lead to blindness if the microorganism grows and affects the eyes; it can easily perforate the eye because it’s a harmful practice,” he said.
Lawal noted that it is essential to seek help from medical experts when infected with an eye problem.
“The proper way to treat apollo or any eye problem is to go to the hospital so that an ophthalmologist can access and tell you it’s an apollo because you can just see that the eye is red or the eye is having a discharge but you don’t know if there are some things inside the eye that is causing that trouble and not what you assume it is.
“The best option is an antibiotic eye drop, but you have to first confirm that it is conjunctivitis before you start treating it.
“This is because, sometimes, it can be a malignant condition or cancer that is presenting that way and you may not know until it becomes big trouble.
“Some people even put sugar water and that is bad because sugar is a medium for the growth of microorganisms and once you put it there, the microorganism will have enough food and then cause additional trouble. So, the best option is to go to the hospital.
“Conjunctivitis is self-limiting and usually, it will go on its own, even without treatment,” he said.
The ophthalmologist urged the public to maintain good hygiene.
“Conjunctivitis is seasonal; it’s common during the harmattan period, usually around February, March and April. It peaks twice in a year.
“The major risk factors for conjunctivitis is poor hygiene, in most cases. So, it is essential one keeps healthy hygiene, avoid touching your eyes, wash your hands regularly with clean water, wash your eyes with clean water.
“Usually, the transmission is more like a fly that perches on somebody’s eye, carrying the microorganism and perching on another person’s eyes, depositing the microorganism.
“In other cases, somebody who has conjunctivitis might use his hand to touch the eye and then shake someone’s hand. That’s how it is passed,” he said.
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