CLINICAL PROFILE OF MICROSPORIDIAL KERATITIS AT A TERTIARY EYE CARE CENTER IN BUNDELKHAND REGION

Background: Although rare, microsporidia are sometimes misdiagnosed as the cause of corneal infections. The ubiquitous, obligatory, intracellular parasite is the causal agent. In Asia, the prevalence of microsporidiosis is rising in tandem with the monsoon season. Immunosuppression (HIV infection, topical corticosteroids), contact lens usage, and injuries from water or dirt exposure are risk factors.

Purpose: To study clinical profile of patient with microsporidial keratitis in department of ophthalmology at M.L.B. Medical College Jhansi between April to October 2024. To summarizes the current literature on the etiology and clinical presentation of microsporidial infections of the cornea and highlights ongoing developments in available diagnostic modalities and treatment regimens.

Materials and Methods: Prospective study of 20 patients of microsporidial keratitis present in Department of Ophthalmology at M.L B Medical College Jhansi.

Results: A total of 20 patients were examined out of which 19 patients (95%) presented with pain and redness, 18 patients (90%) present with foreign body sensation and blurring of vision, 15 patients (75%) present with photophobia, 14 patients (70%) present with lid swelling. 18 patients (90%) have conjunctival hyperemia, 16 patients (50%) have diffuse punctate epitheliopathy and 1 have deep stromal infiltrateson examination.

Conclusion: Most commonly patients presents with redness and eye pain, followed by foreign body sensation, blurring of vision, photophobia and least commonly with lid swelling.

背景：尽管微孢子虫（microsporidia）引发角膜感染的情况较为罕见，但有时会被误诊为这类感染的致病菌。这种广泛分布的专性胞内寄生虫正是该病的病原体。在亚洲，微孢子虫病（microsporidiosis）的患病率随季风季节呈上升趋势。免疫抑制状态（如人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染、局部糖皮质激素（topical corticosteroids）使用）、佩戴隐形眼镜（contact lens）以及接触水或泥土导致的眼部外伤均为该病的危险因素。

目的：本研究旨在分析2024年4月至10月期间，占西M.L.B.医学院眼科（ophthalmology）收治的微孢子虫性角膜炎（microsporidial keratitis）患者的临床特征；同时总结当前角膜微孢子虫感染的病因学与临床表现相关文献，并综述现有诊断手段及治疗方案的最新进展。

材料与方法：本研究为前瞻性研究（prospective study），纳入占西M.L.B.医学院眼科收治的20例微孢子虫性角膜炎患者。

结果：共纳入20例患者进行检查，其中19例（95%）表现为眼痛与眼红，18例（90%）存在异物感及视力模糊，15例（75%）出现畏光，14例（70%）伴有眼睑肿胀。18例（90%）存在结膜充血（conjunctival hyperemia），16例（50%）出现弥漫性点状上皮病变（diffuse punctate epitheliopathy），仅1例在检查中发现深层基质浸润（deep stromal infiltrates）。

结论：微孢子虫性角膜炎患者最常见的临床表现为眼红与眼痛，其次为异物感、视力模糊与畏光，眼睑肿胀为最少见的症状。