CORNEAL ULCER AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN BANGLADESH: A RURAL-URBAN COMPARISON

Document Type : Original articles: include clinical trials, interventional research, Basic researches and clinically relevant laboratory investigations

Authors

1 Education dept., IIEI&H, Dhaka, Bangladesh

2 Cornea and Anterior Segment dept., IIEI&H, Dhaka, Bangladesh

3 School of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Open Univ., Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract

Purpose: In most developing countries, corneal infections are the most common cause of
blindness after unoperated cataracts. We examined risk factors for corneal ulcers and made a
comparison between rural and urban patients.
Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional
study and a total of 95 patients were recruited.
Results: The majority (68%) of patients were
males and adults. About 42% of patients had ocular trauma, 20% had corneal ulcers, and 1%
had trachoma. About 40% had a bacterial infection, 64% had fungal infections, 15% had used
traditional medicine, 1% had alcohol consumption and 9% had a viral infection history. Trachoma
was found in 68% of rural patients and 32% of urban patients; bacterial infection was available
in 71% of rural and 29% of urban patients. About 65% of rural and 35% of urban patients had
developed fungal infection. About 85% of rural and 15% of urban patients used traditional
medicine. Viral infection was found in 66% of rural and 34% of urban patients. The corneal ulcer
incidence rates increased with age, sex, marital status, occupation, rural-urban location of the
patients, positive history of trauma, and positive history of traditional eye medicine use. Patient's
occupation, rural-urban location, and positive history of trauma are associated with corneal ulcer
& rates are higher in patients with diabetes, obesity, and hypertension (cOR= 1.89; 95% CI = 1.005–
2.69; P = 0.002).
Conclusion: Health promotion activities and appropriate referral systems may
improve corneal ulcers in rural settings.


Keywords