CORNEAL ULCER AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN BANGLADESH: A RURAL-URBAN COMPARISON | ||||
Egyptian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology | ||||
Article 7, Volume 7, Issue 1, June 2024, Page 55-62 PDF (260.02 K) | ||||
Document Type: Original articles: include clinical trials, interventional research, Basic researches and clinically relevant laboratory investigations | ||||
DOI: 10.21608/ejco.2024.361189 | ||||
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Authors | ||||
Shamsal, I.1; Moin U.2; Sharker, N.3; Abdul M.2; Kumar, P.2 | ||||
1Education dept., IIEI&H, Dhaka, Bangladesh | ||||
2Cornea and Anterior Segment dept., IIEI&H, Dhaka, Bangladesh | ||||
3School of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Open Univ., Gazipur, Bangladesh | ||||
Abstract | ||||
Purpose: In most developing countries, corneal infections are the most common cause of blindness after unoperated cataracts. We examined risk factors for corneal ulcers and made a comparison between rural and urban patients. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study and a total of 95 patients were recruited. Results: The majority (68%) of patients were males and adults. About 42% of patients had ocular trauma, 20% had corneal ulcers, and 1% had trachoma. About 40% had a bacterial infection, 64% had fungal infections, 15% had used traditional medicine, 1% had alcohol consumption and 9% had a viral infection history. Trachoma was found in 68% of rural patients and 32% of urban patients; bacterial infection was available in 71% of rural and 29% of urban patients. About 65% of rural and 35% of urban patients had developed fungal infection. About 85% of rural and 15% of urban patients used traditional medicine. Viral infection was found in 66% of rural and 34% of urban patients. The corneal ulcer incidence rates increased with age, sex, marital status, occupation, rural-urban location of the patients, positive history of trauma, and positive history of traditional eye medicine use. Patient's occupation, rural-urban location, and positive history of trauma are associated with corneal ulcer & rates are higher in patients with diabetes, obesity, and hypertension (cOR= 1.89; 95% CI = 1.005– 2.69; P = 0.002). Conclusion: Health promotion activities and appropriate referral systems may improve corneal ulcers in rural settings. | ||||
Keywords | ||||
Corneal ulcer; fungal infections; Rural-Urban; IIEI & H; Bangladesh | ||||
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