Morbidite et mortalite diarrheiques au Congo

Les auteurs rapportent une enquete par sondage de morbi-mortalite realisee au Congo du 20 juillet au 10 aout 1994 aupres des menages. L'objet de l'etude etait de determiner l'importance epidemiologique des maladies diarrheiques chez les enfants de moins de cinq ans. Il est apparu a la lumiere des resultats; qu'au Congo; chaque enfant presente en moyenne 2;6 plus ou moins 0;3 episodes diarrheiques par an. Le taux d'incidence de la diarrhee sur deux semaines etait de 131 plus ou moins 16;5 pour mille. La prevalence instantanee etait de 42;7 plus ou moins 2;1 pour mille. Le taux annuel global de mortalite representait 19;2 plus ou moins 5;1 pour mille; le taux specifique de mortalite etant de 4;8 plus moins 2;1 pour mille. Les deces associes a la diarrhee representaient un pour centage de 25 plus ou moins 9;1 pour cent. Par ailleurs; l'etude a releve que l'utilisation de la solution de rehydratation orale et de la therapie par rehydratation orale (TRO) demeure encore faible par rapport aux objectifs fixes par le programme national de lutte contre les maladies diarrheiques. Les auteurs recommandent de promouvoir l'allaitement maternel ainsi que l'utilisation de la TRO au niveau du systeme de sante; en particulier dans les hopitaux de reference et au niveau des menages en se basant sur l'information; l'education et la communication

[Current recrudescence of human trypanosomiasis in the Sangha focus (basin) in the Congo]. / Recrudescence actuelle de la trypanosomiase humaine dans le foyer de la Sangha (cuvette) au Congo.

In the Congo the Sangha focus of sleeping sickness caused more than 500,000 deaths in the early 20th century. Despite many years of quiescence many new cases have been detected since the early eighties. In 1987 an investigation found 43 infected patients within 5 villages (during the same year, 74 cases were detected from both investigation and passive detection). In December 1989 our further investigation found 96 new documented cases (115 for the whole year). The prevalence is increasing and the proportion of early stage in comparison with later stage is decreasing. The age diagram resembles that of the early 20th century. Despite the fact that the survey in 1989, extracted twice as many patients as in 1987 passive detection detected 99 infected patients in 1990, three times as many cases as in 1988, and places the "Sangha focus" in IId place in the Congo, after the "Bouenza focus". As only river transport is available to have access to that focus, the Congo will be faced with considerable difficulties in the future.

Enquete sur la mortalite due au tetanos neonatal en zone rurale au Congo

Ce texte est une enquete de morbi-mortalite au niveau communautaire realisee en 1988 qui a servi de base a l'elaboration des strategies permettant l'elimination du tetanos neonatal en Republique du Congo. Les resultats de cette enquete montrent que le tetanos neonatal existe bel et bien dans ce pays. Mais dans le contexte de son elimination; il y a lieu d'ameliorer la surveillance de cette pathologie et de vulgariser les deux aspects que constituent la vaccination des femmes avant l'accouchement de l'enfant et l'accouchement sterile

[A survey of the prevalence of leprosy in 5 countries in central Africa]. / Enquêtes de prévalence de la lèpre dans 5 pays d'Afrique Centrale.

The authors report the results of national surveys conducted in 5 Central Africa states: Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and RCA. The method used was cluster sampling among random populations. Only adults (greater than 15 years of age) took part in the study. The prevalence rates were between 6 and 14 per thousand. They are markedly higher than the official data.

[Epidemiology of endemic leprosy in the People's Republic of the Congo. Risk factors and markers]. / Epidemiologie de l'éndemie lépreuse en République Populaire du Congo. Facteurs et marqueurs de risques.

A national prevalence survey of leprosy was made in june 1989 in Popular Republic of Congo: authors report results. The prevalence rate is 5.8% +/- 2.6% among people more than 15 years of age, and 10.5% of all forms are multibacillary. All patients are under DDS monotherapy. One overwhelming risk factor is leprosy antecedents in the family history; active case-finding and surveillance of contacts are recommended.

[Prevalence and causes of blindness in the Congo]. / Prévalence et causes de la cécité au Congo.

A population-based survey on the prevalence of blindness and eye disease has been conducted throughout the Congo. This was the first time such a survey had been carried out in a central African country with an equatorial climate. In comparison with data available from other African countries, the two rather unexpected characteristics resulting from the survey were lower blindness prevalence rates and the extremely rare cases of bilateral corneal scarring. In accordance with sampling procedures recommended by the WHO Programme for the Prevention of Blindness, 7041 people were selected and examined. The prevalence of blindness (visual acuity less than 3/60 in the better eye) was 0.3% (5700 people). The prevalence of low vision (visual acuity between 6/24 and 3/60 in the better eye) was 2.1% (40,000 people). The major causes of blindness and low vision were cataract (81% and 80%, respectively) and glaucoma (9% and 3.4%, respectively). A total of 22,000 people in the Congo require cataract surgery. Almost four-fifths of the current burden of blindness in this country is potentially curable through the provision of cataract surgery and aphakic glasses.

[Endemic leprosy in the People's Republic of Congo. An epidemiological and behavioral analysis]. / L'endémie lépreuse en République Populaire du Congo. Analyse épidémiologique et comportementale.

The authors report the results of a national prevalence survey of leprosy made in 1989 in Popular Republic of Congo. Leprosy is essentially found in rural areas and frequently causes disabilities. The prevalence rate is 5.8 +/- 2.6% among people more than 15 years of age, and 10.5% of all forms are multibacillary. All patients are under DDS monotherapy. One overwhelming risk factor is leprosy cases in the family history; active case-finding and surveillance of contact cases are recommended. Generally, leprosy is poorly understood by the general population; an educational effort is necessary.

Prevalence and causes of blindness in the Congo

A population-based survey on the prevalence of blindness and eye disease has been conducted throughout the Congo. This was the first time such a survey had been carried out in a central African country with an equatorial climate. In comparison with data available from other African countries, the two rather unexpected characteristics resulting from the survey were lower blindness prevalence rates and the extremely rare cases of bilateral corneal scarring. In accordance with sampling procedures recommended by the WHO Programme for the Prevention of Blindness, 7041 people were selected and examined. The prevalence of blindness (visual acuity less than 3/60 in the better eye) was 0.3% (5700 people). The prevalence of low vision (visual acuity between 6/24 and 3/60 in the better eye) was 2.1% (40,000 people). The major causes of blindness and low vision were cataract (81% and 80%, respectively) and glaucoma (9% and 3.4%, respectively). A total of 22,000 people in the Congo require cataract surgery. Almost four-fifths of the current burden of blindness in this country is potentially curable through the provision of cataract surgery and aphakic glasses