Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of Childhood Eye Diseases at the Prefectural Hospital of Macenta in Guinea

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. .

Ocular Surgical Pathologies in Children Aged 0 to 15 Years in the Bartimée Ophthalmological Clinic in Conakry, Guinea

Context: Childhood eye health is a real public health problem in our context, the consequences of which go beyond vision, affecting education, social participation and future economic productivity. The aim was to study the frequency of ocular surgical pathologies in children aged 0 to 15 years. Patients and Methodius: This study covered a 4 years period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020. It was a retrospective study of a descriptive and analytical nature. It concerned all children aged 0 to 15 who had undergone surgery for ocular pathology during the study period and who were included in the operating room register. Results: Out of 4974 patients of all ages operated for ocular surgical pathology, 124 were children aged 0 to 15 years or 2.49%. The 9 - 12 age group was the most represented with 29.03%;the mean age was 7.3 years ± 4.6 with extremes of 3 months and 15 years. A male predominance was observed at 62.90%. Pathologies of the lens, cataract and eyelids, traumatic edema represented the most frequent eye conditions in our patients with respectively 51 cases or 41.13% in the right eye (OD), 54 cases or 53.55% in the left eye (OG) and 14 cases or 11.29% in OD and OG followed by endemic limboconjunctivitis of the tropics (LCET), 10 cases or 3.23%, in OD and hemorrhage under conjunctival 13 cases or 10.48% in OG. Cataract surgery with the Technique Manuel Small Incision Cataract Surgery + Implantation in the posterior chamber (MSICS + ICP) was the most used in 74% of cases. General anesthesia was the most widely used anesthetic method in 100% of cases. The clinical course was favorable at 45.97%. Conclusion: We note a relatively low hospital frequency of ocular surgical pathologies in children, with a male predominance. The early consultation period and the improvement of the technical platform could improve their management.