Allergic Conjunctivitis at Sheikh Zayed Regional Eye Care Center, Gambia

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis in Gambia and to determine its epidemiologic features, seasonal variations and associated ocular and systemic conditions. METHODS: Records of patients clinically diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis between April 2007 and March 2008 were reviewed. Variables including age, sex, date of presentation, and systemic and ocular findings were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 7,912 patients were visited within the study period, out of which 624 (7.9%) were diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis. The disease was equally distributed in male and female subjects, with high preponderance in children (54.5%). Most patients (60.7%) presented during the dry season as compared to the rainy season. Refractive error was the most common ocular condition associated with the condition present in 7.4% of patients while the most common systemic association was asthma, reported in 1.4% of cases. CONCLUSION: Allergic conjunctivitis in Gambia is more common in children than in adults and has seasonal variation with more patients presenting during dry seasons. Refractive errors are the most common ocular problem associated with the disease and asthma is a systemic association.