Microbial keratitis in children is a serious, vision-threatening condition associated with a high incidence of amblyopia. Children differ from adults in many ways, including difficulty in patient examination, level of inflammation, difficulty in administering topical medications, and risk of amblyopia. Many clinicians tend to treat empirically, without initially collecting cultures, whereas such laboratory investigations prior to treatment remain the standard of care at hospitals and University Medical Centers.There are large regional differences in the relative prevalence of the causative organisms determined by climate and socio-economic factors. Based on the etiological agent, keratitis can be classified as: bacterial Keratitis, viral, protozoal, fungal, parasitic, and keratitis by O omyocites. Treating microbial keratitis aim at eradicating the microbial agent and moderating the host immune response with corticosteroids to reduce the scarring while minimizing potential visual impairments. Most ulcers, those occurring in children below 3 years, are successfully treated with topical therapy alone.
AIM OF THE WORK:
The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for pediatric microbial keratitis and to describe the clinical picture, microbial spectrum, treatment modalities, post treatment sequelae, and visual outcome in a tertiary care center in Egypt.
RESULTS
The study included 33 children. Plant trauma was the most important risk factor, culture was done for 11 cases. Diagnosis of cases were fungal 31% Bacterial 43% viral 22% acanthamoeba 4%.