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Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in school children in Rwanda and its association with socio-economic status: a

Stefan De Smedt1, John Nkurikiye, Yannick Fonteyne

  • 1Ophthalmology Department, Kabgayi Hospital, Muhanga, Rwanda. dr.stefan.desmedt@gmail.com

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|October 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) affects 4.0% of children in Rwanda. Higher economic status, male gender, and hot dry climates are identified risk factors, not intestinal parasites.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Allergy Immunology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a significant allergic eye condition in children, particularly in Africa and Asia.
  • Previous hospital-based research suggested a potential link between parasitic infections and VKC development.
  • Understanding VKC prevalence and risk factors in diverse settings is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To ascertain the prevalence of VKC among school-aged children in Rwanda.
  • To identify environmental and socioeconomic risk factors associated with VKC in Central Africa.
  • To investigate the relationship between intestinal parasitic burden and VKC.

Main Methods:

  • A nested, population-based case-control study was conducted in randomly selected primary schools across rural and urban Rwandan environments.
  • Data were collected from 3,041 children, with a participation rate of 94.7%.
  • Multivariate analysis was employed to determine risk factors, including climate, gender, economic status, and parasitic load.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of VKC was found to be 4.0% (95% CI: 3.3-4.7%).
  • No significant association was observed between intestinal parasitic burden and VKC.
  • Identified risk factors included a hot, dry climate (OR=1.5, P=0.05), male gender (OR=1.7, P=0.005), and higher socioeconomic status (OR=1.4, P=0.005).

Conclusions:

  • VKC is prevalent in Rwandan children, with specific environmental and socioeconomic factors contributing to its occurrence.
  • The study did not find evidence supporting intestinal parasites as a direct cause of VKC in this population.
  • Higher economic status appears to be a risk factor for VKC, independent of parasitic infection levels.

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