Pediatric Ophthalmic Diagnoses at the Yaounde Central Hospital

Abstract

Viola Andin Dohvoma, Emilienne Epee, Stève Robert Ebana Mvogo, Winnie Amanda Zouong Nkomba, Godefroy Koki, Caroline Tsimi Mvilongo, Marie Evodie Akono Zoua, Marie Blanche Nguena, Didier Owono and Côme Ebana Mvogo

Background: Ophthalmic disorders in children can seriously impact development, vision, education and quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of ophthalmic diagnoses of children seen at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Methods: A prospective descriptive study was carried out over a 3 months period (February 2 to April 30 2016). Children aged 0 to 15 years, were included after informed consent was obtained from their parents. Variables studied include age, sex, presenting complaint, visual acuity (in school aged children) and the diagnosis. Blindness was defined as corrected distant visual acuity of <1/20. Results: During the study period, 393 children were seen. We included 301 in this study, amongst whom 153 (50.8%) girls and 148 (49.2%) boys. The mean age was 7.8 ± 4.2 years. The most frequent presenting complaints were pruritus (12.8%), pain (11.3%) and decreased visual acuity (10.7%). Refractive errors (40.2%), conjunctivitis (33.9%) and strabismus (8.6%) were the most frequent diagnoses. Monocular blindness was present in 2.3% of cases (n=7). Conclusion: Refractive error was the most frequent childhood ophthalmic diagnosis in this study. We recommend the putting in place of school-based screening programs.

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