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. 2011 Oct;85(4):711-7.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.11-0291.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in school children in Rwanda and its association with socio-economic status: a population-based survey

Stefan De Smedt  1 , John Nkurikiye, Yannick Fonteyne, Arjan Hogewoning, Marjan Van Esbroeck, Dirk De Bacquer, Stephen Tuft, Clare Gilbert, Joris Delanghe, Philippe Kestelyn
Affiliations

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in school children in Rwanda and its association with socio-economic status: a population-based survey

Stefan De Smedt et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Oct.

Abstract

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is an allergic eye disease and an important cause of hospital referral among children in Africa and Asia. Hospital-based studies have suggested a role for parasites in its pathogenesis. To determine the prevalence and risk factors for VKC in Central Africa, we conducted a nested population-based case control study in Rwanda, involving randomly selected primary schools from different environments (rural/urban) and climate. A prevalence of VKC of 4.0% (95% confidence interval 3.3-4.7%) was found among 3,041 children studied (participation rate 94.7%). The intestinal parasitic burden was not related to VKC. Besides hot dry climate (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5, P = 0.05) and male gender (OR = 1.7, P = 0.005), multivariate analysis identified higher economic status as a risk for VKC (OR = 1.4, P = 0.005). The effect on VKC of higher economic status appears not to act through differences in parasitic intestinal load.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The 360° limbal papillae are potentially sight-threatening in this case of severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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