title: Canaliculitis Awareness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the demographic characteristics, treatment, and results of patients with canaliculitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records including the demographic characteristics, clinical findings, and treatment outcomes of patients diagnosed and treated for canaliculitis between September 2009 and March 2014 were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of the 7 canaliculitis patients consisting of 4 women and 3 men was 49 (range 8-58) years. All patients had unilateral canaliculitis (on the right side in 2 and left side in 5 patients) and the inferior canaliculus was involved more frequently (71.4%). Epiphora, chronic conjunctivitis, a palpable and thickened canaliculus, and yellow discharge from the punctum were present in all cases. Actinomyces spp. was the most frequently cultured microorganism (75%). Dacryolith was observed in 6 patients. Canaliculotomy and dacryolith removal with canalicular curettage were performed, followed by medical treatment (topical penicillin 100,000 U/ml and oral ampicillin/sulbactam) for 10 days. Patients were followed up for a mean duration of 17.0±15.2 (range 3-46) months. Signs and symptoms resolved completely within a month. Epiphora recurred in the 36th month in a single patient and was treated with daily canalicular irrigation with antibiotics and there were no further symptoms during 10 months of follow-up after the recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Canaliculitis is often overlooked and can be misdiagnosed. Every patient with chronic conjunctivitis and lacrimal infection should be examined carefully for canaliculitis.
authors: Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Disease and Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: Melike
authors: M
authors: Balıkoğlu Yılmaz
authors: Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Emine
authors: E
authors: Şen
authors: Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ebru
authors: E
authors: Evren
authors: Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ufuk
authors: U
authors: Elgin
authors: Ulucanlar Eye Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Pelin
authors: P
authors: Yılmazbaş
keywords: Canaliculitis; canaliculotomy; conjunctivitis; curettage