[Tropical conjunctivitis: infectious etiology and validation of its clinical features]

173 nontrachomatous conjunctivitis studied at the I.O.T.A. in Bamako, Mali, have shown a majority of bacterial aetiology, especially gram-negative. 1 out of 10 conjunctivitis was due to virus, mostly to adenovirus. 4% of the cases were due to Chlamydia Trachomatis. The try of validation of the clinical characters in comparison with the etiology has shown that Chemosis was an indicator of a bacterial conjunctivitis (OR = 2.4) and that the lack of purulent discharge was in connexion with the presence of a keratitis (OR = 7.7). On the one hand the frequency of gram-negative bacteria, on the other hand the potential gravity of the conjunctivitis in tropical area, would justify the use of gentamycin at first in nontrachomatous conjunctivitis.