[OCT topographic characteristics of the optic nerve in patients clinically suspected to have large optic disc cupping in Togo]

PURPOSE

To describe topographic characteristics of optic discs clinically suspected of large cupping.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is retrospective study conducted from the January 2 to December 31 on the OCT registry and data base of a private ophthalmologic center in Lomé (Togo). We included records of patients with large cupping - CDR (cup-to-disc ratio) ≥ 0.4 -clinically observed and having undergone OCT-optic disc analysis.

RESULTS

Three hundred and thirty-five patients (619 eyes) were studied, with a mean age of 41.87 years±17.51 years [6 years and 80 years] and a sex-ratio of 1.01 with a slight female predominance. The mean clinical CDR was 0.51±0.126 [0.4 and 0.9] (95 % CI [0.503 to 0.531]). The clinical CDR was ≥ 0.7 in 7.75 % of cases. The mean neuroretinal rim area was 1.63±0.43 mm² [0.34 and 2.85 mm²]. The mean cup area was 1.43±0.54 mm² [0.13 and 4.29 mm²], and the mean cup volume 0.47±0.28 mm³ [0.01 and 1.72 mm³]. The mean global CDR on OCT was 0.46±0.13 [0.21 and 0.87], of which 30.85 % (191 cases) had CDR <0.4. The CDR on OCT was >0.7 in 40 (6.46 %) eyes vs. 48 (7.75 %) eyes on clinical examination.

CONCLUSION

On the average, optics discs exhibit large size and large cup volume. Topographic evaluation of the optic disc by the means of OCT offers important data and gives way to etiological research of large cupping in the black African.

[What remains today of neonatal conjunctivitis in prefecture of Kozah in Togo?]

AIM

The purpose of this study is to screen the neonatal conjunctivitis in order to evaluate its incidence and especially to seek for the causative germs.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We have realized cross-sectional study in three health centers of the prefecture of Kozah from March 24 to May 12, 2009. All the newborns followed in these centers are examined in the search of signs of conjunctivitis. A biological diagnosis of conjunctival secretions was carried out at the suspect newborns.

RESULTS

During the study period, 348 newborns were examined including 185 boys and 163 girls corresponding to a sex-ratio (M/F) of 1.1. The middle age was 3.7 days. Twenty-eight newborns presented conjunctivitis, that is to say a rate of incidence of 8%. The cases of conjunctivitis were observed the first four days of life in 39.3% of cases. Eighteen of the newborns presenting conjunctivitis were vaginal deliveries (64.3%) against ten (35.7%) by caesarian. All the mothers of the ill newborns had a syndrome of sexually transmissible infection (STI) during the third quarters of pregnancy. After biological diagnosis, Staphylococcus aureus was found in 25% of the cases.

CONCLUSION

Despite the common herd of neonatal conjunctivitis prophylaxis by Crede's method, its remains in the prefecture of Kozah. In hope for neonatal conjunctivitis eradication, treatment of STI on pregnant women associated to education and communication on the prevention of the infection in neonatal health care centers and at home by hygiene rule application are necessary.