Trachoma

From IDWiki

Background

  • Neonatal infection with Chlamydia trachomatis leading to blindness
    • Caused by serotypes A, B, Ba, and C
  • Most common infectious cause of blindness worldwide

Clinica Manifestations

  • Starts with conjunctivitis, but eyelids turn inwards (entropion), and the inward-turned eyelashes (trichiasis) cause ulceration and scarring of the cornea, leading to blindness

Management

  • SAFE (per WHO)
    • Surgery to trichiasis
    • Antibiotics for active infection
    • Facial cleanliness
    • Environmental improvement
  • Antibiotics

Prevention

  • Depends on local prevalence
  • Can do mass treatment with azithromycin annually for three years if the prevalence is greater than 10% in children under 10