A clinical study of Papilloedema among the patients presenting in a tertiary care hospital of Vijayapur

Abstract

Background: Any condition which causes increased intracranial pressure can result in Papilloedema, of which greatest number are due to Meningitis and Tumours of Brain. Papilloedema is much more frequently observed in children than in older people. It can cause various visual field defects of which concentric enlargement of blind spot is most common. Papilledema may lead to diagnostic difficulties in its different stages. It should be differentiated from optic neuropathies and structural abnormalities of optic disk known as pseudo Papilloedema. This study was done for evaluating causes of Papilloedema and to study age, sex and causal distribution of Papilloedema. Methodology: This Descriptive, Observational study was conducted in Department of Ophthalmology, in our Hospital from September 2021 to September 2022. Detailed history was recorded. Assessment of anterior segment via slit lamp biomicroscopy was done. Depending on cause of Papilloedema, CT or MRI scan of head was done. Ancillary investigations like CBC, CSF analysis and other blood investigations were done whenever required. Result: A total of 50 patients with Papilloedema were included in the study. Maximum number of patients belonged to third and fourth decade. Bilateral papilloedema was usual presentation. The major etiological factor was Meningitis followed by brain tumours and other causes. Conclusion: Papilloedema is seen in all age groups but is more common in younger and middle age groups. Meningitis and Brain Tumours were major etiological factors for Papilloedema. Tuberculous meningitis causes Papilloedema more often than any other form of meningitis.

Keywords

• papilloedema
• intracranial pressure
• meningitis
• tumour