title: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis in school children in Rwanda and its association with socio-economic status: a population-based survey.
abstract: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is an allergic eye disease and an important cause of hospital referral among children in Africa and Asia. Hospital-based studies have suggested a role for parasites in its pathogenesis. To determine the prevalence and risk factors for VKC in Central Africa, we conducted a nested population-based case control study in Rwanda, involving randomly selected primary schools from different environments (rural/urban) and climate. A prevalence of VKC of 4.0% (95% confidence interval 3.3-4.7%) was found among 3,041 children studied (participation rate 94.7%). The intestinal parasitic burden was not related to VKC. Besides hot dry climate (odds ratio [OR] = 1.5, P = 0.05) and male gender (OR = 1.7, P = 0.005), multivariate analysis identified higher economic status as a risk for VKC (OR = 1.4, P = 0.005). The effect on VKC of higher economic status appears not to act through differences in parasitic intestinal load.
authors: Ophthalmology Department, Kabgayi Hospital, Muhanga, Rwanda. dr.stefan.desmedt@gmail.com
authors: Stefan De
authors: SD
authors: Smedt
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Nkurikiye
authors: Yannick
authors: Y
authors: Fonteyne
authors: Arjan
authors: A
authors: Hogewoning
authors: Marjan Van
authors: MV
authors: Esbroeck
authors: Dirk De
authors: DD
authors: Bacquer
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Tuft
authors: Clare
authors: C
authors: Gilbert
authors: Joris
authors: J
authors: Delanghe
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Kestelyn
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class