Domestic ocular and adnexal injuries in Nigerians.
A study of domestic ocular and adnexal injuries over an 18 month period at the Guiness Eye Centre Onitsha showed that they constitute 26.4% of all cases of ocular trauma. Women and children were at a greater risk of sustaining eye injuries from domestic activities. The activities leading to injuries in the 45 patients studied were fight, children's play, chopping firewood, plucking fruits/vegetables and corporal punishment; the injuries were inflicted by self; playmates, siblings, parents and husbands; the agents of injury were fist, missibles, sticks and other sharp objects, exploding bottles and human bite. Most patients presented more than one week after injury. Only 18 patients (40%) kept follow-up appointment. Among these visual acuity improved in 11 while 5 remained blind. The importance of these epidemiologic characteristics in relation to prevention of such injuries and reduction of ocular morbidity in established cases are discussed.
Nnammdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria.
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Nwosu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity