Prospective study of trachoma in Benghazi, Libya.
Loading...
Date
2005
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sebha University
Abstract
Purpose: To prospectively study the incidence of trachoma in Benghazi and it’s relation to the sex, socio-economic state and geographic distribution. In addition, to determine the influence of this ocular pathology in the visual state of the patient.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 1450 Libyan citizens living in the city of Benghazi, Libya. Those subjects were the attendants of the ophthalmology outpatient central clinic and Red Crescent clinic. The subjects were submitted to full ophthalmological examination. The trachoma stages were defined according to McCallan classification. The visual acuity was determined according to WHO staging. The data was statistically analyzed.
Results: Of all the subjects examined, 1.1% had active trachoma, 26.8% demonstrated healed trachoma almost always bilaterally. Trachoma complications were manifested in 5.7% as trichiasis and 9.4 as corneal opacity. 39.9% of the affected population had visual acuity between visual defect and legal blindness.
Conclusion: Cicatricial trachoma constitute a relatively high percentage in ophthalmic patients in Benghazi, Libya, with grave complications and consequences. The disease has a high incidence in females, low socio-economic populations and rural areas.
Description
Keywords
Trachoma, Libya, Complications, Visual acuity, Socioeconomic.