Trachoma
What is trachoma?
Trachoma is an infectious eye disease and one of the leading preventable causes of blindness worldwide. Untreated, repeated trachoma infections result in permanent blindness, where the eyelids turn inward, causing the eye lashes to scratch on the cornea. Children are the most susceptible to infection, but effects are often not felt until adulthood.
What causes trachoma?
Trachoma is caused by the bacteria chlamydia trachomatis and is spread by flies or direct contract with eye, nose and throat secretion from affected individuals. Trachoma is prevalent in areas without adequate access to water, poor sanitation, poverty and excess of flies that transmit the disease.
What cures trachoma?
While the infection can be treated, the blindness, once it has occurred, is not reversible. The infection is treated through regular application of antibiotic eye ointment and regular face washes. Eye surgery is done for in-turned eye lashes (trichiasis) to help prevent blindness at more advanced stages of the disease. Recently the drug Azithromcyin has been introduced. One dose gives the patients protection for up to 6 months.
WHO has recommended the SAFE strategy for elimination of trachoma: 1) Surgery to correct advanced stages of the disease 2) Antibiotics to treat active infections 3) Facial cleanliness to reduce disease transmission 4) Environmental change.
What prevents trachoma?
Frequent face and hand washing and improved domestic sanitation prevents the transmission of the bacteria.
