title: Knowledge and Awareness of Eye Flu among the Dentists and Dental Auxiliaries of Udaipur City, Rajasthan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva and has 4 main causes-viruses, bacteria, allergens, and irritants. Among these, bacterial conjunctivitis is most common and is contagious, especially when the dentist is working with the infected person, and that person spreads the same to the other patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pretested questionnaire survey was conducted among 152 subjects (those who were present at the time of survey) aged 18 to 60 years of Udaipur city, Rajasthan in March 2012. Ethical clearance was obtained from relevant authority. Written informed consent was obtained from study participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All (80 dentists and 72 dental auxiliaries) the subjects returned the questionnaire. Regarding previous experience of eye flu, 67 (44.08%) participants reported that they had been infected with eye flu previously. Majority 123 (80.92%) of participants agreed that virus or bacteria caused eye flu. Majority of 145 (95.39%) of the participants agreed that the eye turns red during eye flu. One hundred and twenty three (80.92%) subjects replied that the dental treatment for a patient infected with eye flu should be delayed till the symptoms subside.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eye flu being an occupational hazard among dentists, personal ophthalmic prophylactic care is a must which helps in prevention of spread of infection to other patients and family members.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Loyara, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Nagesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Loyara, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Loyara, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Jaddu Jyothirmai
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Loyara, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Sopan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Loyara, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Loyara, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Suraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Multani
keywords: Dentists; dental auxiliaries; eye flu; infection
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