Highlights & Basics
- Trachoma is a keratoconjunctivitis caused by ocular infection with particular serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis.
- Antibiotics, in conjunction with facial cleanliness campaigns and environmental improvements targeted at communities at risk, aim to reduce the reservoir of infection within a population.
- Occurs predominantly in children. Poor facial cleanliness may be the most important modifiable risk factor in children who develop trachoma.
- Children who have had multiple or severe episodes of active trachoma may develop cicatricial disease in later life.
- Trachomatous cicatricial disease is characterized by tarsal conjunctival scarring, predominantly of the upper lid, although scarring may be sub-epithelial and not always patent. It may ensue over the subsequent decades and lead to trachomatous trichiasis, corneal opacity, and subsequent loss of vision.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Images
Eyelid eversion demonstrating follicles on the upper tarsal conjunctiva
A normal eyelid
Eyelid eversion demonstrating scars on the tarsal conjunctiva
A red eye due to at least 1 inturned eyelash touching the globe (trachomatous trichiasis)
Corneal opacity due to trachoma
Eyelid eversion demonstrating intense inflammation of the upper tarsal conjunctiva
Citations
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World Health Organization. Report of the 4th global scientific meeting on trachoma, Geneva, 27-29 November 2018. Jun 2019. [internet publication].[Full Text]
Evans JR, Solomon AW, Kumar R, et al. Antibiotics for trachoma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Sep 26;9:CD001860.[Abstract][Full Text]
Ejere HO, Alhassan MB, Rabiu M. Face washing promotion for preventing active trachoma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Feb 20;(2):CD003659.[Abstract][Full Text]
Burton M, Habtamu E, Ho D, et al. Interventions for trachoma trichiasis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Nov 13;(11):CD004008.[Abstract][Full Text]
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