Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is an inflammation of the conjunctiva due to allergy [1–3]. AC ranges from more prevalent non-sight threatening conditions like seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC) and giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) to less prevalent sight-threatening ones such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) [4]. Generally, it is a type 1 immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated hypersensitivity reaction while cell-mediated T-helper cells-2 (Th-2) are implicated in some types [4, 5]. AC involves a cascade of events which begins when mast cells become unstable and subsequently break down [6]. How does this degranulation of mast cells occur? The conjunctiva mounts an antigen-specific response with Th-2 upon contact with an allergen, releasing cytokines and producing IgE. IgE then binds to mast cells which break down; releasing histamines, prostaglandins, platelet-activating factor, more cytokines and other intermediaries. The signs and symptoms of AC result from the activation of inflammatory cells by these intermediaries [7]. For instance, when histamine binds to H1 receptors on nerve endings, it causes the symptom of itchiness; when it becomes attached to H2 receptors found on blood vessels in the conjunctiva, it produces vasodilation and lacrimation. The process could be heightened and become chronic in nature with progressive recruitment of neutrophils and eosinophils by mast-cell derived cytokines and Th-2 cytokines respectively [8, 9]. This is what leads to a probable development of papillae in some patients [5]. It is difficult finding a single cause for AC because it is believed to result from an interplay of varying causative factors like genetics, air pollution in urban areas, pets, warmer climates and early childhood exposure [10, 11]. For instance, in Ghana, Obeng et al. [12] found out that some food substances like groundnut (peanut) and pineapple could trigger AC. Ocular discomfort associated with AC include itching, redness, tearing, pains, burning sensation, lids and conjunctival edema together with foreign body sensation. These symptoms would almost invariably affect academic performance and the vision-oriented quality of life of victims resulting in morbidity and loss of productivity [13–17].

While older population studies estimate AC prevalence of 15–20 % globally, more recent studies report rates as high as 40 % [18]. This probably supports a continuing increase in prevalence pattern of AC [13] despite treatment options like lubricating agents, vasoconstrictors, antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers and topical steroids [19]. Consequently, there has been a shift to immunotherapy especially in the United States as an alternative treatment modality [13]. Additionally, as a remedy, O’Brien et al. [19] recommends a multifaceted management regimen consisting of patient education and lifestyle modification.

However, because AC is usually underdiagnosed and subsequently undertreated, a related prevalence studies would probably provide a true picture of the burden, while enhancing informed decision on pragmatic management modalities. Moreover, this would possibly assure effective and efficient health resource allocation in a bid to possibly improve upon the quality of life of the affected [18].

While there is a preponderance of hospital-based prevalence studies of AC in Ghana [20, 21] and Africa [22, 23], the same could possibly not be said of community-based studies. Accordingly, this study, virtually the first Ghanaian community-based studies, had the purpose of determining the prevalence of AC among basic school children in the Kumasi Metropolis together with identifying its main presenting symptoms.

Of a total population of 5950 students, 1571 representing 26.4 % were recruited; 838 (53.3 %) were males while 733 (46.7 %) were females with female/male ratio being 1:1.14. Their ages ranged from 5 to 16 years (mean ± SD, 8 ± 0.65 years).

There are more Ghanaian studies on the prevalence of Allergic Conjunctivitis (AC) in the hospital setting than community-based ones [20, 21]. However, the former may not give a true picture of the burden of AC due to probable under-diagnosis [18]. Therefore, the current community-based cross-sectional study had the purpose of determining the prevalence of AC among basic school children in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. AC was diagnosed by symptoms of bilateral itchiness and either burning sensation, tearing, ropy/clear mucinous discharge, or photophobia. The concurrent ocular signs were on the presence of at least two of these: papillae, redness, brownish limbal hyperpigmentation, visible limbal tranta spots and chemosis [22, 24].

The prevalence of AC was found to be 39.9 %, representing 626 out of 1571 students (Table 1) supporting a general continuing increase in its burden [13]. However, this is somewhat higher when compared to previous hospital-based studies [20, 22, 23, 25] except Adenuga et al. [26] who found the prevalence of AC to be 42 %. For example, Malu et al. [22] had 32 % as the prevalence of AC among patients who presented to an eye hospital in Nigeria. It is possible the lower prevalence of AC in hospital-based studies might be due to under-diagnosis of the condition [18]. Moreover, the mean (±SD) age of participants in Abokyi et al. [20], with AC prevalence 9.1 %, was 21.92 ± 18.29 years compared to 8 ± 0.65 years in the current study. Since AC is generally known to be a disease of children and young adults [20, 27], the lower mean age of the students in this study might contribute to the comparatively higher prevalence.

Again, Hamilton et al. [28] noted from 26 health practitioners that males were worse than females in attending hospitals for probable diagnosis and subsequent treatment of ailments. Consequently, hospital-based studies on prevalence of AC could most likely lead to an underestimation and possibly give credence to the higher AC prevalence in the current study.

Meanwhile, in their community-based studies among school children, Kumah et al. [29] and Abah et al. [30] found the prevalence of AC to be 12.1 % and 7.3 % respectively. Though the authors did not state the timing of their respective studies, the higher prevalence of AC in the current study is probably because of its timing in the dry season (November to March) where there is usually dust and pollen in the air [23]. Epidemiologic studies have confirmed exposures to particulate matter (air pollutants) as contributing to AC, more so when the conjunctiva is in direct contact with the atmosphere. For instance, upon exposing the conjunctiva of their study subjects to diesel exhaust, Fujishima et al. [31] found a significant upregulation of inflammatory cells like interleukin-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 responsible for AC. Most of these air pollutants like urban dust contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which have been implicated in at least allergic lung diseases [32]; might not be different for AC.

Again, differences in study designs and sample sizes could render an explanation to the observed variations in AC prevalence. Moreover, it could be due to the recent general progressive increase in the prevalence pattern of AC [13] probably suggesting a global increase in air pollution.

As shown in Table 1, schools with non-dusty compounds like St Paul’s Anglican, Aprade M.A. and Asem mixed with the exception of State Experimental had lower respective prevalence of AC than those with dusty compounds. This is because of the probable association between AC and dust or sand [20, 23, 33].

The population of subjects diagnosed with AC consisted of 271 (43.3 %) males and 355 (56.7 %) females (Table 2). This is in consonance with several studies [20, 22, 34] with the exception of Marback et al. [35] who found the otherwise. Despite the fact that there were more males (53.3 %) than females (46.7 %) in the study sample (Table 1), females were more likely to be predisposed to AC than males (p < 0.05). Though the question of which gender is more predisposed to AC is a controversial one [36], the differences in the genetic composition of both sexes could probably be responsible for the observed difference [20].

Besides itchiness being reported by all respondents with AC, redness (71.2 %), ropy discharge (66.3 %) and grittiness (60.5 %) were the next commonest symptoms/signs (Table 3). Itching is a frequent and almost invariably indicates that the inflammation of the conjunctiva is allergic in origin [20]. Though dry eye may present with almost all the symptoms of AC; opposed to AC, its symptoms are usually associated with visual task [37] and characteristic staining [38]. The itching provokes eye-rubbing which may be responsible for some of the subsequent symptoms [2]. The discomfort, photophobia and itching may divert a child’s attention from the teacher to rubbing the eye to relieve the symptoms and this may affect the process of learning. It was noted that 70.0 % of the students diagnosed never had any form of treatment. This might be due to the fact that guardians possibly did not consider their children’s itchy eyes as needing treatment. Perhaps, the respective guardians saw the symptoms of AC as normal; poverty could also be a probable factor.

Allergic Conjunctivitis is an endemic ocular disease amongst children of school going age in the metropolis and therefore calls for pragmatic and proactive measures to reduce its effects on these students.