Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To present the demographic and clinical data of patients with ocular toxocariasis seen in a referral uveitis clinic in mid-eastern Poland. Method: We reviewed the cases of 61 patients (25 males, 36 females) with ocular toxocariasis treated at the 1st Department of Ophthalmology, Lublin University School of Medicine, from January 1996 to June 2001. The diagnosis was based on detailed ophthalmic and physical examination, medical, family and social history and on targeted laboratory investigations, including serum and intraocular antibody levels tested by ELISA. Data regarding age, sex, place of residence, anatomical location and management of uveitis were obtained and subjected to statistical analyses. Results: The prevalence of ocular toxocariasis was 2.74 per 100 000 in the population at large. The mean age at presentation was 31.1 years (range 5-72). The male/female ratio was 1:1.44. 31.2% of patients were inhabitants of urban areas whereas 68.8% of rural areas (chi2=6.08; p=0.01). Posterior uveitis was present in 41 and panuveitis in 20 cases. Toxocariasis accounted for 22.0% of posterior uveitis, 23.5% of panuveitis and 10.9% of total 563 uveitis cases. 56 patients were treated with periocular and/or systemic corticosteroids and 31 with antihelminthic agents. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 9 cases. Conclusion: Prevalence of ocular toxocariasis was higher than reported from other countries. This disease is the significant cause of uveitis in mid-eastern Poland, especially in inhabitants of rural areas.
Keywords: 354 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • 344 chorioretinitis