The Patterns of Eye diseases in Children under five years presenting to Makkah Eye Complex Khartoum state Sudan

Abstract

This is cross sectional hospital based study aimed to evaluate the patterns of eye diseases in children under five years and identify the associated of socio- demographic and medical factors for ocular morbidities & blindness. Two hundred fifty children under five year were including in the study. The study was conducted in outpatient clinic of Makkah eye complex in Khartoum state from September (2010) up to February (2011). Two hundred fifty children were enrolled in the study. The questionnaires include personal data, history, physical examination and treatment options emphasis on eye was performed. The study showed male predominance (54.4%) constituted the bulk group and neonate was the least. The majority of patients from the urban area (58.8%) most of them among low to moderate socioeconomic status (99.6%). a total of (33) different types of eye diseases were found. Cataract was the most prevalent (20.4%) followed by conjunctivitis (16.8%), vernal kerato conjunctivitis VKC (12.4%), squint (10%), naso lacrimal duct obstruction NLDO (7.6%), glaucoma (6.0%), corneal ulcer (4.8%), retractive error (4.4%) and blindness represent (0.8%) Table (2). The study showed there is strong association between cataract and eye trauma, also trauma was more common in older age and male children. Allergic conjunctivitis is major conjunctival disease and glaucoma is the leading cause of visual impairment blindness represent (0.8%), most commonly is preventable, but this may be under estimated and true estimation could be determined by community based study. we concluded that most common cause of childhood ocular morbidity is cataract also there association between cataract and eye trauma in under five years also there is association between eye infection in neonatal period and NLDO supplementation of vitamin A is benefit. Gluacoma, is the leading cause for blindness.