[Xerophthalmia: current data]. / La xérophtalmie: données actuelles.

Xerophthalmia is a term covering a range of ophthalmologic manifestations due to vitamin A deficiency. This condition occurs in preschool children in tropical regions affected by protein-caloric malnutrition. Clinical manifestations of the disease have been summarized in the 1974 five-grade WHO classification. Clinical diagnosis was traditionally made using a slit lamp to detect the pathognomonic manifestations and consequences of corneal and conjunctival xerosis. Currently diagnosis is greatly facilitated by determination of plasma levels using a micromethod, especially the relative dose response (RDR) test, and by conjunctival impression cytology (CIC). CIC is a simple and reliable method which allows mass screening and thus more effective evaluation of the impact of xerophthalmia on public health in Africa. The relationship between xerophthalmia and measles is complex. Vitamin A deficiency promotes measles which can in turn hasten perforation of keratomalacia especially in undernourished children. Vitamin A has a beneficial effect on both xerophthamia and measles. Curative and prophylactic administration of vitamin A at doses recommended by the W.H.O. considerably reduces not only xerophthalmia-related morbidity but also child mortality in tropical areas.

[Sicca syndrome and low-grade chronic viral hepatitis C. Apropos of a series of 50 cases]. / Syndrome sec et hépatite virale chronique C de bas grade. A propos d'une série de 50 cas.

Systemic manifestations are described in chronic hepatitis C. Haddad et al have showed the prevalence of sicca syndrome with lymphocytic sialadenitis. We analysed prevalence in 50 patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C with histologic low rank. 50% of them have pronounced abnormality of lachrymal secretion without sialadenitis. It seems that sicca syndrome is present in low rank hepatitis. In that case xerophtalmia preceded xerostomia.

[The cataract in Bangladesh. Epidemiology--treatment]. / La cataracte au Bangladesh. Epidémiologie--traitement.

The Bangladesh, earth of mud and water, is one of the most poor countries in the world. And it is a fact that the very special geographical, climatical and vital statistics are the victims of certain endemic diseases. For the most part, the diarrheoïcal diseases are prevailing. From the ophthalmologic point of view, avitaminosis A is the major risk factor during the childhood. However, as in many other countries, the prime cause of blindness is the cataract. This disease is surgically curable. The treatment is affected by the lack of surgeons and the big number of cases. An example of therapeutic strategy is presented by B.N.S.B.: Bangladesh National Society for the Blind.