Emergency management: microbial keratitis
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Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Community eye health
Abstract
Microbial keratitis is an infection of the cornea that
can be caused by bacteria, fungi or protozoa such as
Acanthamoeba spp. In low- and middle-income
countries, management is often more challenging
because of late presentation, the use of traditional eye
medicines, insufficient diagnostic support, a lack of
effective drugs and insufficient keratoplasty services.
Our experience in East Africa is that most patients will
visit a primary health centre within a day or two of onset
of symptoms, but may take another two weeks to reach
the eye unit; by which time it can be too late to save the
eye. All health care workers, including front-line primary
health workers, must therefore know how to identify
microbial keratitis early, provide immediate treatment,
refer patients for specialist treatment and make sure
they are able to take up the referral.
Description
Keywords
Emergency management, Microbial keratitis
Citation
Arunga, S., & Burton, M. (2018). Emergency management: microbial keratitis. Community eye health, 31(103), 66-67.