Trachoma

What is Trachoma?

Trachoma is an eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which may result in chronic scarring and blindness if left untreated.

Disease transmission occurs primarily between children and the women who care for them. Some have characterized this transmission cycle by describing trachoma as a disease of the crèche (day nursery).

Prevention of trachoma-related blindness requires a number of interventions. The World Health Organization (WHO) and their partners endorse the surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement (SAFE) strategy for trachoma control.

What are the causes of Trachoma?

Trachoma has an incubation period of 5 to 12 days and begins slowly as conjunctivitis (irritation near the eye, " pik eye ").If the eyelids are severely irritated, the eyelashes may turn in and rub against the cornea. This can cause eye ulcers, further scarring, visual loss, and even blindness.

Trachoma is acquired via direct contact with eye or nose-throat secretions from affected individuals or by contact with inanimate objects that are contaminated with these secretions, such as towels or clothes. In addition, certain flies that have fed on these secretions can transmit trachoma.

What are the symptoms of Trachoma?

Some of the common symptoms of Trachoma are listed below-

Conjunctivitis.
Discharge from the eye.
Swollen eyelids.
Turned-in eyelashes.
Swelling of lymph nodes just in front of the ears.
Cloudy cornea.

What treatment can be done for Trachoma?

Trachoma is usually treated with antibiotics given over 3 to 5 weeks. In areas with poor hygiene, little medical care and few antibiotics may be available. In this case, topical antibiotics can be used for mass treatment. People with trachoma often have a secondary bacterial infection, which also must be treated. Corrective surgery may be needed to prevent blindness. Vaccines offer only temporary and partial protection.

Once the infection is established there are no treatments. Therefore, when exposure to an infected animal is suspected, rabies prevention should be started as soon as possible. Rabies vaccine injections should be administered starting on the very same day of the suspected exposure, and then on days 3, 7, 14 and day 28 after the exposure.