Abstract
IN a recent study (Thèse de Paris, 1938, No. 142), Dr. C. Koskas states that trachoma was probably imported into Tunisia by immigrants from North Africa, Italy, Malta and Spain. Although it is a notifiable disease, the natives, who do not recognize the gravity of the condition, evade the law, and comparatively few cases are actually notified. The only means of determining in any way the frequency of the disease is by medical examination of school children or of recruits for the army. There is no doubt, however, that infection rarely occurs in adults or in the schools ; but that it is usually contracted in the early months of life. The incidence of the disease is much higher in the south where the climate is hot, the sirocco violent and frequent, the atmosphere laden with dust and sand, and the inhabitants poverty stricken and underfed than in the north of Tunisia. Flies play an important part in the transmission of the disease, as was shown by Nicolle and Cuenod in 1921, Petit in 1925 and Mme. Delanoe in 1930 ; but race does not influence the incidence or gravity of the disease. Good work has been done by the establishment of ophthalmic departments where free advice and treatment are given.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Trachoma in Tunisia. Nature 142, 869 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/142869a0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/142869a0