A survey of uveitis in Kenyatta National Hospital
Abstract
65 patients attending Kenyatta National -Hospital eye
department who were diagnosed as having uveitis were reviewed
by me during a six month period; interviewed and examined. The
patients' tribal and regional background was inquired about.
Uveitis was graded into chronic or acute depending on the symptoms
and findings. It was found that most of the patients
presented with chronic uveitis with already established complications.
Many such patients either came late or had been on
treatment for sometime either at Kenyatta National Hospital or
elsewhere.
The age-of presentation and the sex was also analysed and
it showed that most of the patients presented with uveitis were
between the ages of 10-40 years. There were--slightly more males
than females. 61.5% of the patients presented with anterior
uveitis only compared with 13.8% with posterior uveitis only
and 24.7% with both anterior and posterior uveitis.
Complications following uveitis were noted in over 80%
of the patients with synechia and cataract formation being
the commonest complications. other complications noted
included glaucoma, maculopathy, hypotony, phthisis, corneal
opacities and retinal detachment.
Only 10% of the patients had associated findings which
would explain the uveal inflammation. The rest of the patients
had no associated problems.
Laboratory and other investigations were carried out on
some patients; but for most patients this was not possible
because of problems that will be mentioned later.
Citation
Masters of Medicine (Ophthalmology)Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Medicine