Eye infection caused by Aspergilus fungus

[Guest guest]

National

http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/06/06/d40606070261.htm

Primary Probe by RMCH Doctors Reveals

Eye infection caused by Aspergilus fungus

Our Correspondent, Rangpur

Primary investigation by eye specialists at Rangpur Medical College

(RMCH) revealed that a fungus called Aspergilus caused the serious

eye infection among many people in northern districts that led to

blindness of some patients or removal of eye.

The investigation followed a letter from the Home Ministry to the

Director of Rangpur Medical College Hospital four days back after The

Daily Star published a story on the disease.

An eye specialist at RMCH told this correspondent yesterday that the

infection was found more among farmers from Gibandha and Rangpur

districts.

About 70 per cent of the patients at RMCH came from Gaibandha and 20

per cent from Rangpur. The rest 10 per cent came from Nilphamari,

Kurigram and Lalmonirhat.

Doctors have suggested use of spectacles during harvest or thrashing

paddy.

They Director of RHCH Shahariar Kabir however said, " The RMCH does

not have adequate equipment to detect it accurately. "

When asked if he will invite specialists from Dhaka or abroad to

defect it accurately, the director said, " I don't think it is

necessary right now as the number of patients is not alarming. "

The fungal infection created an alarm among farmers and many people

came to the RMCH and other hospitals in the town for treatment. One

eye of at least seven patients were removed and three others became

blind due to the infection in the last two weeks.

An eye is infected with the fungus when it comes in contact with ripe

Boro paddy. Severe pain and swelling starts immediately. If proper

treatment is not done within three-four days, the cornea is damaged

and the eye has to be removed because the infection spreads to the

other eye.

Tarsorrhapy, a kind of operation is the only treatment, RMCH eye

specialists said earlier.

The fungus grows on ripe Boro paddy during summer due to excessive

humidity in the air. Doctors did not rule out the possibility of

growth of the fungus from insecticides.

" We faced such cases once five years back, but the number this year

is huge and unprecedented " , Dr. Afzal Khan had said.