Active trachoma, face washing [F] and environmental improvement [E] in a high-risk population in Oman

Oman aims to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2010. As a part of a study to review the health institution approach of trachoma surveillance, "F" [facial cleanliness] and "E" [environmental improvement] components of the SAFE trachoma control strategy were assessed in a high-risk population in Nizwa wilayat. Thus 50 households with 1 member treated for active trachoma in the last 6 months were evaluated for active trachoma and for water and sanitation facilities. In all, 229 children under 15 years of age were clinically examined; the rate of active trachoma was 3.5% in the children. Clean face was found in 97.8% of the children and 70% of houses had piped water or water supplied by tankers. The status of "F" and "E" in the study area was generally high

Distichiasis and dysplastic eyelashes in trachomatous trichiasis cases in Oman: a case series

The study was a prospective evaluation of the prevalence of distichiasis and /or dysplastic eyelashes among trachomatous trichiasis cases at the oculoplasty unit of a hospital in Oman over 3 months in 2000. An oculoplasty surgeon examined and photographed cases using a bio-microscope. Out of 80 cases, 58 [72.5%] had abnormal eyelashes in addition to trachomatous trichiasis. The rate of distichiasis and dysplastic lashes were 13.8% [95% CI 6.2%-21.3%] and 33.8% [95% CI 23.5%-44.1%] respectively; 25.0% [95% CI 15.5%-34.5%] had both. Dysplastic and distichiasis eyelashes were significantly more prevalent in trachomatous trichiasis cases aged < 50 years and those with entropion. Presence of distichiasis and /or dysplastic eyelashes in trachomatous trichiasis cases warrants further analytical studies to confirm the observation and establish any causal association

Cost-effectiveness of audiometric screening of first-year preparatory pupils in Dhofar region, Oman

Audiometric screening was conducted in Dhofar region to study the magnitude of ear problems and cost-effectiveness of screening first-year preparatory-school children in Oman. None of the 1894 pupils had otitis media with effusion or sensory neuronal hearing loss. Six children [0.32%] had impacted wax, 4 [0.21%] chronic suppurative otitis media and 2 [0.11%] dry perforation of eardrum. In all, 14 children [0.74%] with suspected hearing impairment were referred to a specialist but only 2 attended. Physicians and nurses spent 8-10 minutes for ear examination per child for a yield of less than 1%. The screening expenditure was US$ 5 per pupil. As the prevalence of serious ear conditions was low, we conclude that exp and ing the audiometric screening of schoolchildren to first-year preparatory pupils is not cost-effective

Validity of vision screening by school nurses in seven regions of Oman

We tested the validity of vision screening in schools in 7 regions of Oman in 2003.Two researchers tested 1719 randomly selected students in 4 school grades using the Snellen E acuity test. Trained school nurses had previously screened 182 233 students. The visual status recorded in the 2 screenings was compared. Sensitivity of screening by nurses was 68.34% [95% CI: 67.30-69.38] and specificity 99.23% [95% CI: 99.19-99.27]. The positive predictive value was 85.42% [95% CI: 84.63-86.21] and negative predictive value was 97.93% [95% CI: 97.87-98.00].The sensitivity of the vision test was significantly higher in females, older students and in North Sharqiya region. In general, the vision screening of school students in Oman has satisfactory validity. Periodic training of nurses and supervision of the screening procedures could improve its sensitivity. Underlying causes of the high numbers of false negative cases should be further investigated