TRACHOMA Grace Lloyd

Did you know.. More than 8 million people are visually impaired or blind as a result of Trachoma Statistics from International Trachoma Initiative

Did you know.. More than 8 million people are visually impaired or blind as a result of Trachoma. Over 84 million have active disease Statistics from International Trachoma Initiative

Did you know.. More than 8 million people are visually impaired or blind as a result of Trachoma. Over 84 million have active disease. It is completely treatable Statistics from International Trachoma Initiative

Did you know.. More than 8 million people are visually impaired or blind as a result of Trachoma. Over 84 million have active disease. –75% of these are children It is completely treatable. WHO predicts that more than 150 million people are in need of treatment 2005 Statistics from International Trachoma Initiative

Defined as “a chronic, contagious infection of the conjunctiva and cornea, characterized by the formation of granulations and scarring, and caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.” So what is it?

World Health Organization – Trachoma 2005

A Look at the Bacteria …

The eye-seeking fly Musca sorbens aggressively feeds on ocular and nasal discharges And, these discharges may contain… Chlamydia trachomatis! How it’s Spread

Person-to-Person: DIRECT contact with eye, throat, and nose secretions OR contact with inanimate objects that have had direct contact

How it Affects the Body Early symptoms similar to conjunctivitis (“pink eye”) and –This inflammation is called “active trachoma” and mostly seen in children

Trachoma Symptoms.. Also include structural changes: –Scarring in eye lid Leads to distortion of lid –This leads to Trichiasis! (turned in eyelashes) –Blood vessels and scar tissue invades the upper cornea

Trichiasis Later stage of Trachoma –Eyelashes turn inwards and rub on the cornea

Standard Antibiotic (As recommended by WHO) Topical tetracycline ointment –Twice a day for 5 days –Once a month –For 6 months OR Azithromycin Single oral dose

How Azithromycin Works Inhibits protein synthesis of the bacteria

How Azithromycin Works Inhibits protein synthesis of the bacteria Since it is a single oral dose for treating trachoma, DOT can be enforced

WHO “SAFE” Approach Lid Surgery Antibiotics Clean Faces Environmental Changes

2020 Goal 1998 WHO goal of eliminating trachoma by year 2020.

2020 Goal 1998 WHO goal of eliminating trachoma by year People affected fallen from 360 million in 1985 to ~80 million today