Epidemiologic study of Alternaria Keratitis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Alternaria spp. is opportunistic fungus and the most prevalent cause of asthma and allergic disease. Keratitis caused by the fungus Alternariaspp. is quite rare. The authors performed an epidemiological study to identify the risk factor and to evaluate clinical manifestations, methods and results of treatment in Alternaria keratitis. METHODS: Epidemiological study of Alternaria keratitis was performed prospectively under the identical protocol from April 1995 to May 2000 in 5 hospitals. RESULTS: Seven cases of Alternaria keratitis were identified by culture with corneal scraping or corneal biopsy. They were 8.5% of the 82 cases of fungal keratitis. Of the 7 patients, 5 were men (71.4%). All patients were over 50 years and 5 of them (71.4%) were farmers. In terms of trauma history, 6 out of 7 patients had previous history of corneal traumas, and most of these corneal traumas were vegetable matter-related. CONCLUSIONS: The most common (83.3%) predisposing factor for Alternaria keratitis was vegetable matter-related corneal trauma. The prompt referral for diagnostic studies and specific antifungal management, or surgical therapy might be helpful to reduce the incidence rate of complication of keratomycoses.