TITLE:
Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of Childhood Eye Diseases at the Prefectural Hospital of Macenta in Guinea
AUTHORS:
Maxime Dantouma Sovogui, Christophe Zoumanigui, M’mah Aminata Bangoura, Balla Sovogui, Mössö Sevogui, Kokou Vonor
KEYWORDS:
Ocular Pathologies, Children, Macenta, Guinea
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ophthalmology,
Vol.13 No.4,
November
16,
2023
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Eye health in children is a real public health
problem in developing countries. The aim of this work was to determine the
frequency of ocular pathologies in children aged 0 to 16 at the prefectural
hospital of Macenta in Guinea. Patients and Method: This was a
descriptive prospective study. It covered a period of 6 months from October 1
to March 31, 2022 at the prefectural hospital of Macenta in Guinea. Children
aged 0 to 16 received during the study period were included. Were excluded,
those with an incomplete file and whose parents did not consent. Results: Out
of 1816 consultations, 224 children aged 0 to 16 were collected 7.95%; mean age 7.35 years ± 4.6; sex ratio 1.38. The age
group of 6 to 11 years was more represented. More than half of the patients
were educated 50.4% and came from rural areas 52.7%. Pathologies of the orbit
were dominated by orbital cellulitis 13% and those of the annexes by
conjunctivitis 40.6%. Keratitis and cataracts were pathologies dominating the
cornea and the lens, respectively 5.4% and 8.5%. Atrophy of the eyeball was the
most frequent among those of the eyeball, at 3.6%. The most performed surgical
procedure was phacophagy in 6.7%. The most common reason for consultation was
eye pain, at 33.5%. Both eyes were affected at the same time in the majority
49.5%, and the most represented antecedent was malaria 22.3% of cases. Visual
acuity without correction ≥ 3/10 was the most represented 37.5% in the right
eye and 34.8% in the left eye. The therapeutic classes used were dominated by
antibiotic-corticoid combinations 88.8%. Conclusion: Ocular pathologies
in children from 0 to 16 years old constitute a real public health problem.
They are dominated by pathologies of the conjunctiva and the lens.
Popularization for early management of ophthalmological pathologies would be
beneficial.