Epidemiology, clinical profile, complications and treatment outcomes of chronic dacryocystitis in a tertiary care hospital in post lockdown era: An observational study

Abstract

to study the epidemiological factors, clinical features, complications and treatment outcomes of chronic dacryocystitis in Odisha after nationwide lockdown in 2020. An observational study was designed from July 2020 to December 2020 in Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Cuttack, Odisha. Total of 187 patients presenting with chronic dacryocystits were evaluated thoroughly in various epidemiological parameters. The history and clinical features were noted. After proper evaluation and conservative treatment, those patients were subjected for surgery and the surgical outcomes are followed-up upto 3 more months, i.e. March 2021.: The prevalence of chronic dacryocystitis was around 1.224%. Among the 187 patients, 112 were females (59.9%). The disease was found in highest proportion in the age group of 51-60 years (30.5%) followed by 25.7% in the age group of 61-70 years. 90.4% were from rural population. Socioeconomic status and living standard was found to be a significant factor, people belonging to class 4 & 3 were affected more. Majority of the affected were housewives (39.6%) and farmers (21.9%) followed by small businessmen (13.9%) and wage laborers (12.9%). Epiphora was the commonest presenting symptom in 71.6%, followed by mucopurulent discharge in 29.9% and swelling near the medial canthus in 12.3% cases. Complications like conjunctivitis, keratitis, preseptal cellulitis, cutaneous fistula were present in 6.4%, 8.4%, 7.5% and 5.9% cases respectively in our study group. The success rate of external DCR was reported as 85.8% in this study. Chronic Dacryocystitis, though a common problem of lacrimal drainage system, is much less recognized disease, specially in rural population and in lower socio-economic community in Odisha. Thus patients may present late with one or more complications, e.g. conjunctivitis, keratitis, preseptal cellulitis, lacrimal abscess, mucocele, cutaneous fistula, which is the current scenario in post-lockdown 2020 era. Maintaining all precautions and guidelines for COVID-19, we should not delay treating these patients with surgical measures. The surgical success rate (85.8%) however was not affected much in spite of all these factors.