Caused by bacterial infection, trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world and is currently endemic in approximately 53 countries. Estimates report that 2.2 million people are visually impaired as a result of trachoma, 1.2 million of whom are irreversibly blind, and another 7.3 million persons are living with the late, disabling stages of the disease [1]. Trachoma is exac...

OBJECTIVE Limited surveys and anecdotal data indicate that trachoma is endemic in the states of Eastern Equatoria and Upper Nile in southern Sudan. However, its magnitude and geographical distribution are largely unknown. We conducted surveys to ascertain the prevalence and geographical distribution of trachoma, and to identify targets for control interventions. METHODS Population-based cross...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Trachoma is a sight-threatening process triggered by the infection of the conjunctiva with Chlamydiae. Blindness associated with trachoma was reported in Sahelian areas of Cameroon. However, data on the prevalence of this neglected infection in the Far North Region are not available. The aim of this study was a) to assess clinical trachoma and b) to detect Chlamydia in the c...

OBJECTIVE We aimed to summarize and map the existing global population-based data on active trachoma and trichiasis. Detailed distribution maps of various infectious diseases have proved a valuable tool in their control. Such maps play an important role in assessing the magnitude of the problem, defining priority areas for control, monitoring changes, and advocacy. Until now, information on tra...

PURPOSE To determine the burden of trachoma and its related risk factors amongst the native population of Car-Nicobar Island in India. METHODS Rapid assessment for trachoma was conducted in ten villages of Car-Nicobar Island according to standard WHO guidelines. An average of 50 children aged 1-9 years were assessed clinically for signs of active trachoma and facial cleanliness in each villag...

PURPOSE A public health intervention study in Vietnam was conducted between 2002 and 2005 to assess the impact of improved water and sanitation facilities and increased awareness about active trachoma in the community. METHODS In My Thon village (MT), all four components of the SAFE strategy were implemented. In Xom Ngoai village (XN), only the S & A components of the trachoma control strateg...

OBJECTIVES--Whereas serovars A, B, Ba and C of Chlamydia trachomatis are usually associated with trachoma, two of these serovars (Ba and C) are occasionally observed in urogenital infections. Variation in the gene encoding the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) was explored to distinguish urogenital from trachoma specimens of the same serovar. METHODS--A large portion of the MOMP gene was ampl...

In the largest disease-mapping project ever conducted, health workers trained by the Global Trachoma Mapping Project have already examined the eyelids of more than 1 million people in nearly 1,000 districts since December 2012. The data collected are being used to create the first truly complete global map of trachoma and trichiasis, due in March 2015. Data on the prevalence of trachoma and tri...

Blinding trachoma, one of the oldest known infectious eye diseases, may be facing its end. Formerly the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness, trachoma has brought physical suffering and economic devastation to tens of millions of people, mostly women and children in poorer countries. As a result of development and targeted interventions, however, nine countries with trachoma have alre...

Identify trachoma knowledge, attitudes and practice of staff in clinics, schools and community workplace settings to optimise trachoma-elimination health-promotion programs in the Katherine West Health Board region of the Northern Territory. Prior to the introduction of a suite of health promotion resources the Indigenous Eye Health Unit and Katherine West Health Board conducted a baseline surv...