Success rate of probing in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in Menellik II referral hospital

Introduction: The timing of probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) has been a matter of controversy. This study was conducted to assess the success rate of probing in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction and to evaluate the association between success rate and age at the time of intervention. Methods: A prospective study was conducted between April 2014 and March 2015 on 71 children diagnosed to have congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Patients were divided into three age categories. Group A was (1-4 years), group B (4- 7 years), and Group C (7-9 years). Probing was performed by two ophthalmic plastic and lacrimal surgeons under light sedation. Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17.0. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test with P value less than 0.05 were used to examine the relationship between success rates of probing and age.Results: A total of 101 eyes of 71 children, were included in the analysis. The overall probing success rate was found to be 88.1%. The success rate of probing was 96.0 % in group A, 82.4% in Group B and 33.3% in group C. Statistical analyses showed that there were significant differences in the success rate among these age groups (P< 0.0001).Conclusion: This study confirmed that success rate of probing is greatest in children between 1-4 years and declines with increasing age. Hence, earlier diagnosis and probing are recommended and can be taken as a first line treatment for children with reasonable outcome

Rapid trachoma assessment in Kersa District, Southwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide. Though trachoma can be treated with antibiotics (active trachoma) or surgery (trachomatous trichiasis), it is still endemic in most parts of Ethiopia. Despite the prevalence of this infectious disease in different parts of the country, district level data is lacking. This study was thus conducted to assess the prevalence estimate of trachoma and its risk factors in Kersa District, Southwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A community based cross sectional Rapid Assessment of Trachoma was conducted using a WHO guideline. Six sub-districts were selected from Kersa District based on primary high risk assessment and from each sub-district; 21-27 households were randomly selected. Active trachoma for children aged 1-9 years, trachomatous trichiasis for people above 15 years old and environmental risk factors for trachoma were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. RESULTS: The overall prevalence estimate of active trachoma was 25.2% (95% CI: 20.7-30.4%). Forty three percent of children had unclean faces, 11.5% of households had water source at more than half hour walking distance, 18.2% did not have functional latrine, and 95.3% of the households had solid waste disposal within a distance of 20 meters. Households with environmental risk factors were at an increased risk to active trachoma, but the association was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The prevalence estimate of trachomatous trichiasis inclusive of "trachoma suspects" was 4.5%. CONCLUSION: Trachoma is endemic in Kersa District with active trachoma being a public health problem in the studied sub-districts. Hence, SAFE strategy should be implemented.