To identify potential risk factors for developing congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO).
Study design and methods
A cross-sectional study. A quantitative questionnaire was distributed to a sample of mothers attending the Pediatrics Clinic at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Results
A total of 756 mothers responded to our questionnaire. Of the 756 filled questionnaires, 389 (51.67%) were male children. 5.3% of the mothers lived in non-urban settings. CNLDO was reported in the children attending the clinic by 17.1% (129/756) of their mothers. Average age (±SD) of infants when persistent tearing was noticed was 3.2 ± 2.7 months, while average age (±SD) of resolution was 9.6 ± 3.7 months. Of the children with CNLDO, 37.2% (48/129) still have persistent tearing at the time of distributing the questionnaire. Among the group with CNLDO, 17% (22/129) of their mothers have experienced an infection during pregnancy (p = 0.022). Within the same group, 14.7% (19/129) of the affected children were reported by their mothers to have other children with CNLDO which was statistically significant (p = <0.001).
Conclusion
CNLDO could have a genetic predisposition and maternal infection is a possible risk factor for developing CNLDO. Surgical management awareness should be emphasized to relieve children from this relatively common and benign condition.
Keywords
Congenital
Nasolacrimal duct
Obstruction
Risk factors
Cited by (0)
Peer review under responsibility of Saudi Ophthalmological Society, King Saud University.