Trachoma

For other uses, see Trachoma (disambiguation).

Trachoma
Other namesGranular conjunctivitis, blinding trachoma, Egyptian ophthalmia[1]
Surgical repair of in-turned eyelid and eyelashes resulting from trachoma
SpecialtyInfectious disease
SymptomsEye pain, blindness[2]
CausesChlamydia trachomatis spread between people[2]
Risk factorsCrowded living conditions, not enough clean water and toilets[2]
PreventionMass treatment, improved sanitation[3]
TreatmentMedications, surgery[2]
MedicationAzithromycin, tetracycline[3]
Frequency80 million[4]

Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.[2] The infection causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids.[2] This roughening can lead to pain in the eyes, breakdown of the outer surface or cornea of the eyes, and eventual blindness.[2] Untreated, repeated trachoma infections can result in a form of permanent blindness when the eyelids turn inward.[2]

The bacteria that cause the disease can be spread by both direct and indirect contact with an affected person's eyes or nose.[2] Indirect contact includes through clothing or flies that have come into contact with an affected person's eyes or nose.[2] Children spread the disease more often than adults.[2] Poor sanitation, crowded living conditions, and not enough clean water and toilets also increase spread.[2]

Efforts to prevent the disease include improving access to clean water and treatment with antibiotics to decrease the number of people infected with the bacterium.[2] This may include treating, all at once, whole groups of people in whom the disease is known to be common.[3] Washing, by itself, is not enough to prevent disease, but may be useful with other measures.[5] Treatment options include oral azithromycin and topical tetracycline.[3] Azithromycin is preferred because it can be used as a single oral dose.[6] After scarring of the eyelid has occurred, surgery may be required to correct the position of the eyelashes and prevent blindness.[2]

Globally, about 80 million people have an active infection.[4] In some areas, infections may be present in as many as 60–90% of children.[2] Among adults, it more commonly affects women than men – likely due to their closer contact with children.[2] The disease is the cause of decreased vision in 2.2 million people, of whom 1.2 million are completely blind.[2] Trachoma is a public health problem in 42 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America.[7] There are 136.9 million people at risk.[2] It results in US$8 billion of economic losses a year.[2] It belongs to a group of diseases known as neglected tropical diseases.[4]

  1. ^ Swanner Yann A. Meunier; with contributions from Michael Hole, Takudzwa Shumba & B.J. (2014). Tropical diseases: a practical guide for medical practitioners and students. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA. p. 199. ISBN 9780199997909. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Blinding Trachoma Fact sheet N°382". World Health Organization. November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Evans JR, Solomon AW, Kumar R, Perez Á, Singh BP, Srivastava RM, Harding-Esch E (26 September 2019). "Antibiotics for trachoma". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 9 (9): CD001860. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001860.pub4. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC 6760986. PMID 31554017.
  4. ^ a b c Fenwick A (March 2012). "The global burden of neglected tropical diseases". Public Health. 126 (3): 233–6. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2011.11.015. PMID 22325616.
  5. ^ Ejere HO, Alhassan, MB, Rabiu, M (20 February 2015). "Face washing promotion for preventing active trachoma". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015 (2): CD003659. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003659.pub4. PMC 4441394. PMID 25697765.
  6. ^ Mariotti SP (November 2004). "New steps toward eliminating blinding trachoma". New England Journal of Medicine. 351 (19): 2004–7. doi:10.1056/NEJMe048205. PMID 15525727.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference newwho was invoked but never defined (see the help page).