Prevalence and clinical features of recurrent herpetic keratitis in upper Egypt

ABSTRACT

The prevalence and clinical features of herpes simplex keratitis in Upper Egypt were studied. Of 8447 patients presenting to the Eye Clinic in Assiut University Hospital, 456 [5.4%] patients had herpetic keratitis. The highest prevalence of herpetic keratitis was found in the age group of 30 - 39 years of both males and females [116 out of 456 patients]. The disease was unilateral among 427 [93.6%] and presented in the seasons of winter in 195 [42.8%] patients. Herpetic keratitis was detected during the first recurrence in 274 [60.1%] patients, and 182 [39.9%] patients had more than one recurrence [average 1 recurrence per year]. The commonst symptom was irritation, 233 [51.1%]. Herpetic lesions were ulcerative keratitis in all patients with one recurrence and keratouveitis in 47 [25.8%] out of 182 patients with more than one recurrence. Herpetic keratitis should be considered as one of the leading causes of corneal blindness in Upper Egypt. The factors affecting the course and seriousness of the disease are discussed