[Epidemiological and clinical features of allergic conjunctivitis in a reference center].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate demographic and clinical features of patients with allergic conjunctivitis in a reference center.


METHODS
Prospective study using sings and symptoms graduated by standardized charts for clinical diagnosis.


RESULTS
We evaluated 207 patients, age ranging form 1 to 45 years and of whom 131 (63.28%) were males. Of the patients, 38.65% presented vernal keratoconjunctivitis; 38.65%, atopic keratoconjunctivitis; 12.56%, perennial allergic conjunctivitis and in 10.14% patients the diagnosis was not defined. Extraocular allergy was more frequent in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (91.25%) and less frequent in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (32.5%). Family history of allergy was more frequent in patients without defined diagnosis (59.1%) and less frequent in the vernal group (28.75%). The most itense symptoms were itching and tearing in patients with keratoconjunctivitis. There was a positive correlation between symptom intensity and signs severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic and severe types of ocular allergy, with potential threat to visual function, predominated in the studed group.
Marback
Patricia Maria Fernandes
PM
Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. patriciamarback@uol.com.br
de Freitas
Denise
D
Paranhos Junior
Augusto
A
Belfort Junior
Rubens
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004391:Dust; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution
D004391:Dust