Resumo
The study aimed at identifying the causes of childhood blindness at ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano. The causes of visual loss in 31consecutive patients aged <16 years who attended the ECWA eye Hospital
between 1993 and 1996, who had vision of <3/60 in the better eye were recorded. The eyes were examined with a slit lamp or flashlight a loupe, and an ophthalmoscope. The intraocular pressure was
taken with either a Schiotz or an applanation tonometer. There were 14 males (45.0%), the mean age was 6 years; range: 1 to 15 years. Corneal causes were responsible for blindness in 54.8%. Measles was responsible for 10 cases; neonatal infection was responsible in 2 cases. Four cases were due to lens lesions. By aetiologic category, childhood factors accounted for (32.3%). The causes in 51.7% were not known. Hereditary factors and perinatal factor accounted for 6.4% cases each. Intrauterine factors were responsible for 1 case. Eighteen (58.6%) of the cases were due to avoidable causes; 12 (38.4%) being preventable and 6 (19.2%) treatable. The causes of Childhood blindness in this study are consistent with those of low economic region with high prevalence of avoidable blindness.
Keywords: Childhood, blindness, causes, treatable, avoidable, preventable.
Résumé
Pour identifier la cause de la cécité enfantile á l’hopital ophthalmologique d’ECWA, Kano. Les causes de la perte visuelle chez 30 patients consécutive agés de <16 ans visitant l’hopital ophthalmologique d’ECWA entre 1993 et 1996, qui avaient une vision de <3/60 étaient enregistrés. Les yeux étaient examinés a l’aide de la loupe et d’un ophthalmoscope. La préssion intraoculaire était prise avec soit le Schiotz ou le tonométre d’applanation. Ils y avaient 14 males (45.0%),d’une moyenne d’age de 6 ans; variant entre 1 á 15 ans. Des causes cornéales étaient responsables de la cécité chez 54.8%. La rougeole étaitresponsable de 10 cas; infection néonatale chez 2 cas. Quatren cas étaient due aux lesions du cristallin. Par catégorie étiologique, les facteurs infantiles étaient estimés á 32.3%. Les causes chez 51.7% étaient non connues. Les facteurs héréditaires et périnatales étaient estimés á 6.4% cas chacun. Un seul cas était due aux facteurs intrautérines.Dix huit (58.6%) des cas étaient due a des causes évitables; 12 (38.4%) étant prévenable et 6 (19.2%) traitable. Les causes de la cécité infantile dans cette étude sont consistent chez ceux des régions économiques basses ayant un taux élevé de cécité évitable.
Correspondence: Dr. F.O. Olatunji, P.O. Box 1003, General Post Office, Ilorin. Email: drfolatunji@yahoo.co.uk.
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