Tetracycline in Trachoma

Tetracycline in trachoma.

IN earlier reports (Agarwal and Gupta, 1954; Agarwal and Saxena, 1954), the sulphonamides and various antibiotics, including oxytetracycline (terramycin) and chlortetracycline (aureomycin), have been evaluated in the treatment of trachoma. A new antibiotic, tetracycline (Achromycin, Lederle), has recently been made available. In its pharmacological action and toxicity it resembles the two menti...

Efficacy of oral azithromycin versus topical tetracycline in mass treatment of endemic trachoma.

OBJECTIVE To compare the impact of mass treatment with oral azithromycin and topical tetracycline on the prevalence of active trachoma. METHODS A total of 1803 inhabitants from 106 households of eight Gambian villages were randomized, in pairs, to receive either three doses of azithromycin at weekly intervals, or daily topical tetracycline over 6 weeks. Ocular examinations were conducted befo...

Operational comparison of single-dose azithromycin and topical tetracycline for trachoma.

PURPOSE World Health Organization guidelines for antibiotic treatment of trachoma currently include a 6-week course of tetracycline eye ointment twice daily or a single dose of oral azithromycin. Previous trials have shown similar efficacy of these two alternatives when administration of the ointment was carefully supervised. It is believed, however, that azithromycin may be a more effective tr...

Trachoma

Trachoma.

Trachoma is the most common infectious cause of blindness. It is caused by ocular serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis. Transmission is favoured in poor communities, where crowding is common and access to water and sanitation inadequate. Repeated reinfection over many years causes dense scarring of the upper eyelid. The resultant inversion of the lashes abrades the eyeball, and the abrasion leads ...