Department of Ophthalmology, Regional Hospital.
Department of Ophthalmology, Abii Specialists Eye Clinic, Bamenda, Cameroon.
Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 Oct 1;23(5):423-429. doi: 10.1097/ACI.0000000000000928. Epub 2023 Jul 6.
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic bilateral allergic inflammatory disease of the conjunctiva and cornea that affects children and young adults, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. A limbal form (tropical endemic limbo conjunctivitis) is thought to be more common in the tropics where research on this vision-impairing condition is scanty. We sought to review current literature from sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on the prevalence of VKC and its clinical presentation.
There is a variable prevalence of VKC in SSA, up to 32.9% of children, especially in male individuals less than 5 years old, and has been diagnosed in a 4-month-old baby. Associated factors include exposure to dust, personal and family history of atopy, Vitamin D3 deficiency and HIV. The mixed form of VKC is the most frequent form seen and conjunctival pigmentation might be an early diagnostic sign.
Childhood screening programs for VKC should be established to reduce the morbidity, decreased quality of life and school absenteeism that is seen in these patients. VKC-related research should be encouraged in this milieu to bring to light the particularities of VKC in SSA.
目的综述：春季角结膜炎（VKC）是一种影响儿童和青年的慢性双侧过敏性炎症性疾病，特别是在撒哈拉以南非洲。边缘型（热带地方性边缘性结膜炎）被认为在热带地区更为常见，而关于这种致盲疾病的研究却很少。我们试图从撒哈拉以南非洲的现有文献中进行综述，重点关注 VKC 的流行情况及其临床表现。
最新发现：在 SSA，VKC 的患病率存在差异，高达 32.9%的儿童患病，尤其是 5 岁以下的男性，甚至有 4 个月大的婴儿被诊断出患有 VKC。相关因素包括接触灰尘、特应性个人和家族史、维生素 D3 缺乏和 HIV。混合性 VKC 是最常见的类型，结膜色素沉着可能是早期诊断的迹象。
总结：应在儿童中建立 VKC 筛查计划，以降低发病率，提高生活质量，减少此类患者的缺课率。应鼓励在这一环境中开展与 VKC 相关的研究，以揭示 SSA 中 VKC 的特殊性。
