[Exophthalmia in children at the African Institute of Tropical Ophthalmology (AITO)].
BACKGROUND
Exophthalmia is a rare entity. The purpose of this study was to ascertain epidemiological features, clinical aspects, and potential treatment modalities for exophthalmia in children at the University Teaching Hospital- African Institute of Tropical Ophthalmology (UTH-AITO).


METHODS
This prospective and descriptive study was carried out from July 2006 to June 2007 at the IOTA-UTH in collaboration with the pediatric hematology and oncology unit of the Gabriel Toure UTH. All patients between the ages of 0 to 15 years who presented unilateral or bilateral exophthalmia whether measurable or not were included. In all cases thorough clinical workup was performed and any appropriate additional examinations were ordered. All data were consigned to a questionnaire.


RESULTS
A total of 46 eyes in 38 children were included, i.e., unilateral right in 15 cases, unilateral left in 15 and bilateral in 8. Mean age was 9.6 years (range, 2 days to 15 years). The male-to-female sex ratio was 1.9:1. The incidence of exophthalmia was 0.3%. Exophthalmia was the reason for seeking medical advice in 68.4% of cases (26 children). Classification according to underlying pathology divided patients into four groups, i.e., inflammatory and/or infectious pathologies in 36.9% (14 cases), tumor pathologies in 31.6% (12 cases), trauma in 13.1% (5 cases) and undetermined in 18.4% (7 cases). A Hertel millimetric regression of exophthalmia was observed in 23.9% of cases (11 eyes) and a gain in visual lines of acuity was observed in 8.7% (4 eyes).


CONCLUSIONS
Given the normally low frequency of exophthalmia, observation of a 0.3% incidence at a third level reference center warrants alerting of health authorities. Etiological classification was comparable to Crawford's as described by Desjardins. Cellulites (50%) and retinoblastoma (33.3%) were the main causes of exophthalmia.


CONCLUSIONS
Since exophthalmia can cause loss of vision and even be life-threatening, early diagnosis and treatment is important particularly in children.
Koki
G
G
Service d'ophtalmologie, Hôpital Militaire de Région No 1, Yaoundé, Cameroun. kok2002g@yahoo.fr
Sylla
F
F
Traore
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies