[Chronic tropical endemic limboconjunctivitis (TELC) in southern Benin: epidemiological and meteorological data]

TELC is a chronic allergic conjunctivitis which affects young children. The aetiology which is usually incriminated is dust, dryness or ultraviolet rays. The main symptoms of TELC are: severe pruritus, brownish pigmentation of the conjunctiva, papillae on the upper palpebral conjunctiva, severe limbitis with Trantat's spots, and finally corneal attack with risk of blindness. Treatment basis is made up with sodium chromoglycate and corticoids. We gathered the epidemiological data of TELC in the South of Benin and their links with the meteorological data (pluviometry, temperature, relative dampness rate, sun radiance and middle evaporation), from 1983 to 1992. There are two peaks of exacerbation for TELC: in March and in August. There is a good two months moved correlation between TELC and pluviometry; a positive correlation with temperature during the first peak and a reversed correlation during the second peak. Peaks of TELC are not linked with hours of sunshine rates.