Understanding of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) epidemics and outbreaks of Paederus spp keratoconjuctivitis, periorbital oedema ("Nairobi red eyes") and dermatitis.

A recent epidemic of acute conjunctivitis in Dar es Salaam showed again the importance of developing a strong infectious diseases epidemiological surveillance network which is effective in minimising disease outbreaks. The current misunderstanding of diseases causation and management explains the repetitive nature of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) in Dar es Salaam. This article aims at increasing public awareness by elaborating two diseases (Acute Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis and Paederus spp keratoconjuctivitis, periorbital oedema-"Nairobi red eyes") confused by many as being associated with recurrent epidemics of conjunctivitis Dar es Salaam.