APOLLO | WHAT IT IS AND FACTS ABOUT 'PINK EYE'

 

Red swollen, itchy and runny eyes are not so pleasant conditions that are seasonally common in African countries. This is locally known as ‘apollo’ and is a very contagious eye infection. There are many beliefs surrounding this very disease and here are just a few of them.

 

 

WHY IS IT CALLED APOLLO?

 

Sources have it that the original outbreak of the disease in Africa, Ghana precisely, coincided with the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969. Hence locals believing that it had something to do with the event, referred to it as Apollo 11 disease, which is still a popular name for it now.

 

A source that attests to this

However, the name of the condition is conjunctivitis- which simply means inflammation or irritation of the conjunctiva(the protective, transparent membrane of the eyes). This is as a result of viral or bacterial infection which causes the blood vessels in the conjunctiva to become enlarged and leads to other signs and symptoms like pink/red eyes, itchiness, sensitivity to light and discharges from the eye. It can also have allergic causes.

 

In full, it is called Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, AHC.

 

 

Related: Staying healthy in the dry season

 

CAN APOLLO BE TRANSFERRED BY STARING?

 

This was a popular childhood belief, that Apollo could be transferred by looking into the eyes of someone suffering from the disease. I once tried to prove it wrong because for all I knew, Apollo doesn’t make you Superman or give you Apollo vision or something.

I ended up contracting it… but not because it was true.

 

 

Apollo is a very contagious infection, why? Because of its nature. It has either a viral/bacterial nature and thus is easily gotten through hand to eye contact with people, surfaces or objects contaminated with respiratory products, feces, and other body fluids of an infected person, or allergic, as a result of exposure to allergens like pollen, cosmetics and even contact lenses.

 Poor sanitation and sharing of towels also aid transmission of apollo.

 

Children (in schools especially) are the most susceptible.

 

Wash your hands with soap frequently, avoid sharing personal belongings, avoid touching your face, avoid crowded places. These are the major preventive measures.

 

 

 

DO LOCAL REMEDIES WORK?

 

Bacterial conjunctivitis is treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointments. Like with other viral diseases, viral conjunctivitis symptoms are managed, they tend to clear up on their own over a period of days.

 

Some so-called remedies do more harm than good. Urine, breast milk and others have no business with conjunctivitis.

There are other plant-based remedies that have many attesting to their potency, but it is best to see your doctor.

 

 

 

 

Apollo or rather conjunctivitis, is a very discomforting condition. You literally feel that you have the world on/in your eyes. 

Have you had your own fair share of Apollo experiences? What have you heard of it?

Did this post enlighten you?

Comment and share.