VOLUME 17 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2015 ) > List of Articles
Latha Gouravalingappa, Kethinieni Komaleeswari, Manjula Sivaprakasam
Keywords : Aspergillus, corneal infections, Fusarium, mycotic keratitis
Citation Information : Gouravalingappa L, Komaleeswari K, Sivaprakasam M. Mycotic keratitis in a tertiary care hospital in rural India. 2015; 17 (1):16-18.
DOI: 10.4103/0972-1282.158783
License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Published Online: 15-07-2024
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2015; Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd.
Background: Mycotic keratitis is an important cause of corneal blindness in developing countries including India. It is more common in the tropics and subtropical regions. A retrospective study was done in all patients with clinically suspected fungal keratitis at Peoples Education Society Medical College and Research Institute Hospital, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh from January 2011 to December 2013 to determine the causative agents and to identify the predisposing factors of mycotic keratitis. Out of 63 cases with corneal ulcer, 39 cases were diagnosed with mycotic keratitis by culture (36 cases) or by potassium hydroxide preparation (three cases). Males were more commonly affected and were mostly in the age group above 50 years Fusarium species (55%) was the most common fungus isolated followed by Aspergillus flavus (22%). Direct microscopic detection of fungal structures in corneal scrapings permits a rapid presumptive diagnosis and early institution of antifungal therapy which is necessary to prevent blindness.
© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.
