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Neglected Tropical Diseases
The NTD Initiative
The Neglected Tropical Diseases Initiative

Trachoma

Introduction and Epidemiology

Trachoma is the result of infection of the eye with Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis). It is the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide.1 In 2008, it has been estimated that 1.2 billion people live in endemic areas; 40.6 million people are suffering from active trachoma, and 8.2 million have trichiasis. More than 48 percent of the global burden of active trachoma is found in five countries: Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Sudan, and Guinea. Fifty percent of the global burden of trichiasis is concentrated in three countries: China, Ethiopia, and Sudan.4 The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 8 million people worldwide have been visually impaired by trachoma.2 In Africa, the prevalence of infection has been shown to reach 40 percent.3 The economic impact of trachoma has been estimated at $2.9 billion per year.

Map of countries with trachoma cases in 2004.

C. trachomatis spreads through direct contact with the eye, nose, or throat secretions of infected people. It is very contagious and almost always affects both eyes. Infection is frequently passed from child to child and from child to mother, especially where there are shortages of water, numerous flies, and crowded living conditions.1

WHO, in 1997, established the Alliance for Global Elimination of Trachoma (GET) by the year 2020.5 The elimination strategy has been summarized with the acronym SAFE, which stands for Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics for active infection, Facial cleanliness and Environmental change.5

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Additional Resources

 

References

  1. Burton, M.J. Trachoma: An overview. British Medical Bulletin. 84: 99-116, 2007.
  2. Thylefors, B., Negrel, AD., Pararajasegaram, R. et al. Global data on blindness. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. 73: 115-121, 1995.
  3. Berhane, Y., Worku, A., Bejiga, A. National Survey on Blindness, Low Vision and Trachoma in Ethiopia. Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia, 2006.
  4. Mariotti, S.P., Pascolini, D., Rose-Nussbaumer, J., Trachoma: Global magnitude of a preventable cause of blindness. Br. J. Ophthalmol. published online 19 Dec 2008.
  5. WHO. (2006). Blinding trachoma: Progress towards global elimination by 2020 (Publication. Retrieved 2008: http://www.who.int/blindness/publications/get2020/en/index.html).