PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the frequency of opthalmyomyiasis externa and the ocular findings of disease in Southern Khorasan. METHODS: All patients referred to the emergency department of Valiaser hospital during the year 2011 with external ophthalmomyiasis were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of external ophthalmomyiasis was made according to clinical findings and the presence of Oestrus ovis larvae. RESULTS: There were 18 cases of external ophthalmomyiasis in the emergency department of Valiaser hospital in 2011. Most cases had the common signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, except for three males who were referred with respective complaints of red eye, foreign body sensation, and swelling around the eyelids after contact injury the previous day; corneal infiltration was present in three cases. The visual acuity among the three cases that had peripheral corneal involvement was 20 / 30 in both eyes. The bulbar conjunctiva showed chemosis in all cases and a ropy pattern discharge that was clinically compatible with external ophthalmomyiasis. However, in one case, microscopic slit lamp examination did not show Oestrus ovis larvae. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of external ophthalmomyiasis was high in this region. Although external ophthalmomyiasis usually manifests as allergic conjunctivitis, coronary-like corneal infiltration may be considered in the differential diagnosis of external ophthalmomyiasis or toxic insult.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Cornea/parasitology/*pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; *Diptera ; *Emergency Service, Hospital ; Eye Infections, Parasitic/*diagnosis/epidemiology/parasitology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iran/epidemiology ; Larva ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myiasis/*diagnosis/epidemiology/parasitology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

The present study was performed to describe 2 cases of human thelaziasis (HT) which occurred in Gyeongsangnam- do and to briefly review the previously reported Korean cases. A 58-year old woman, residing in Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, came to Gyeongsang National University Hospital (GNUH) complaining of foreign body sensation and itching of the right eye in March 2000. Total 6 adult nematodes of Thelazia callipaeda (2 males and 4 females) were detected in her right eye. A 80-year old man, residing in Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, came to GNUH complaining of foreign body sensation, itching, and pain of the right eye in December 2007. A total of 5 worms (4 females and 1 degenerated) were removed from his right eye. We analyzed characteristics of the total 39 Korean HT cases reported to date, including the present 2 cases. Most of the cases (71.8%) occurred in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do before 2000, and 21 cases (53.8%) were males and 18 (46.2%) were females. The prevalence was higher in younger ages below 30 years (48.7%) than 31-60 years (41.0%) and over 61 years (10.3%). The seasonal prevalence showed a higher incidence in autumn (43.6%) than in other seasons. Most of the cases (94.9%) were conjunctival sac infections and only 2 (5.1%) were intraocular cases. The present 2 HT cases are the first reported cases in Gyeongsangnam-do. Some characteristics of Korean HT cases were analyzed.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Eye Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/parasitology/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Seasons ; Spirurida Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/parasitology/*pathology ; Thelazioidea/*isolation & purification ; Young Adult