1. Childhood traumatic cataract in Nigeria; a multicentre study: 2017-2021.
- Author
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Ademola-Popoola D, Muhammad N, Mayor A, Wade P, Ezegwui I, Musa KO, Ugalahi M, Nkanga ED, Udeh N, Ezisi CN, Okeigbemen VW, Dawodu OA, Panshak TE, Okanya CR, Etiowo NM, Sule AA, Obajolowo T, Olusanya B, and Muhammad HD
- Subjects
- Humans, Nigeria epidemiology, Female, Male, Child, Child, Preschool, Retrospective Studies, Infant, Adolescent, Infant, Newborn, Cataract Extraction statistics & numerical data, Incidence, Sex Distribution, Age Distribution, Visual Acuity, Cataract epidemiology, Cataract etiology, Eye Injuries epidemiology
- Abstract
Objective: To determine the frequency, demography, aetiology and mechanisms of ocular injuries associated with childhood traumatic cataract in Nigeria., Methods: A retrospective multicentre study conducted across ten child eye health tertiary facilities in Nigeria between January 2017 and December 2021. Clinic records of all children aged 0-17 years who had been diagnosed with cataract at the various participating centres were reviewed. Information collected include: biodata, mechanism of injury; laterality, place of injury; object responsible; person responsible; duration before presentation and surgical intervention., Results: A total of 636 out of 1656 children (38.4%) had traumatic cataracts during the study period. Their mean age was 109.4 ± 45.2 months with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. Most injuries were unilateral, two (0.3%) children had bilateral involvement. Only 78 (15.3%) children presented within 4 weeks of the injury. Closed globe injuries were responsible for the traumatic cataract in 475 (74.7%) children, while open globe injuries were more likely to present within 24 h (P < 0.001). The commonest objects of injury were cane, sticks, plant, wood and play materials. Self-inflicted injuries occurred in about 82 (13%) children while 407 (64.0%) were caused by close relatives and contacts. The location where trauma occurred was home in 375 (59.8%) and school in 107 (16.8%) children., Conclusion: This multicentre study demonstrates that more than one-third of all childhood cataracts in Nigeria are trauma-related and majority are due to closed globe injuries. Public health interventions to reduce the occurrence of ocular trauma and to encourage early presentation after trauma are advocated., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.)
- Published
- 2024
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