Surgical repair of in-turned eyelid and eyelashes resulting from trachoma
Specialty
Infectious disease
Symptoms
Eye pain, blindness[2]
Causes
Chlamydia trachomatis spread between people[2]
Risk factors
Crowded living conditions, not enough clean water and toilets[2]
Prevention
Mass treatment, improved sanitation[3]
Treatment
Medications, surgery[2]
Medication
Azithromycin, tetracycline[3]
Frequency
80 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]
^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)
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrs"Blinding Trachoma Fact sheet N°382". World Health Organization. November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
^ abcdEvans 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.
^ abcFenwick 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.
^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.
^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.
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Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The infection causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. This...
chlamydia infections of the eyes that go without treatment can result in trachoma, a common cause of blindness in the developing world. Chlamydia can be...
that causes chlamydia, which can manifest in various ways, including: trachoma, lymphogranuloma venereum, nongonococcal urethritis, cervicitis, salpingitis...
College of Ophthalmologists to establish the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program (the "Trachoma Program") 1976–1978, with funding by the Federal Government...
Trachoma papuanum, commonly known as the yellow spectral orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid with a between three and six thick...
associated with lower odds of trachoma. Access to sanitation was associated with 15 percent lower odds of active trachoma and 33 percent lower odds of...
Trachoma speciosum, commonly known as the showy spectral orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid that forms clumps with many thick, cord-like roots...
Trachoma stellatum, commonly known as the starry spectral orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic clump-forming orchid with many thick roots. It has between...
lifelong companion of Helen Keller. At the age of five, Sullivan contracted trachoma, an eye disease, which left her partially blind and without reading or...
His activity as a consulting ophthalmologist to the Northern Territory Trachoma and Eye Health Programme continued until 1992. From 1944 to 1946 he studied...
in both eyes, this is known as "bilateral entropion". Repeated cases of trachoma infection may cause scarring of the inner eyelid, which may cause entropion...
if untreated. Mild cases may not require treatment. Repeated cases of trachoma infection may cause trichiasis. Posterior misdirection of normal lashes...
name is still attached to some disease signs, e.g., von Arlt's line in trachoma and his son, Ferdinand Ritter von Arlt, the younger, was also an ophthalmologist...
treatment. This includes cataracts, the infections river blindness and trachoma, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, uncorrected refractive errors, and some...
infection or helminthiasis), cholera, hepatitis, polio, schistosomiasis, and trachoma, to name just a few. A range of sanitation technologies and approaches...
patient-by-patient basis against the risk of cardiovascular and other adverse effects. Trachoma due to C. trachomatis Uncomplicated skin infections due to S. aureus, S...
the eyeball. It results either from disease (conjunctival sequelae of trachoma) or trauma. Cicatricial pemphigoid and, in severe cases, rosacea may cause...
treatment and the elimination of blinding diseases, such as onchocerciasis, trachoma, glaucoma and cataracts as well as formal ophthalmological training. The...
orthoptic training she met Fred Hollows and joined him on the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program which aimed to survey and treat Aboriginal and Torres...
Project Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP, pronounced "leap") River blindness/Trachoma SightFirst China Action Sight for Kids Other sight programs Core 4 Preschool...
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