title: [Tropical endemic limbo-conjunctivitis (TELC) and allergic management: a preliminary study in Togolese children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the impact of certain allergens on the manifestations of tropical endemic limbo-conjunctivitis (TELC) in Togolese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a 3-year prospective study of 36 Togolese children with acute recurrences of TELC after 1 to 5 months of remission. Skin prick tests were conducted with five perennial respiratory allergens (dust mites, paper mites, roaches, dog and cat, grass pollen) and three food allergens (egg, peanut, shrimp). The reactions were compared to a negative control (saline solution) and a positive control (histamine or codeine sulfate). Length of remissions between acute exacerbations before and after allergy testing were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five children were polysensitive. Individual allergens were: dust mites (83.3%), followed by cockroach (72.2%), shrimp (61.1%), peanuts (55.6%), eggs (44.4%), the cat and/or dog dander (38.9%), and grass pollen (22.2%). The rate of remission prior to allergy testing was 77.8% within 2 months after treatment of an exacerbation; with allergy management, 55.5% of patients experienced remission beyond 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The literature reports that TELC is caused by multiple antigens. The clear predominance of respiratory and food allergens may lead to a new pathway for managing TELC in Togolese children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergy testing is of great importance for patients with frequent acute exacerbations of TELC.
authors.affiliation: Centre hospitalier et universitaire de Lomé (CHU Campus), 05 BP 25 Agbalépédogan, Lomé, Togo; International Onchocerciasis Research Laboratory, CHR, BP 178, Sokodé, Togo. Electronic address: banlajerome@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banla
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maneh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vonor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vonor
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Nonon Saa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agba
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gantin
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Balo
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Soboslay
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakondé
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017336:Loratadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D009355:Neomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014037:Togo; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D017336:Loratadine; D003907:Dexamethasone; C121345:desloratadine; D009355:Neomycin
keywords: Enfants togolais; Food allergies; LCET; Pneumallergène; Respiratory allergies; Sensibilisation; Sensitization; TELC; Togolese children; Trophallergènes