Epidemiology of Trachoma in Health District of Fria in 2014

Aly Sylla,Japhet Pobanou Thera,Pierre Louis Lamah,André Goepogui,Amadou Sylla,Rodrigue Romuald Elien Gagnan Yan-Zaou-Tou,Alexis Ouendouno,Rahim Cheikh Nagnan Diabate,Seydou Bakayoko

doi:10.11648/j.cajph.20190506.16

Abstract

Introduction: Trachoma is a chronic keratoconjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. An epidemiological study was conducted in 2014 in the Health District of Fria (Northern Guinea province) to assess the prevalence of active and scar trachoma in a suspected endemic area of approximately 120-135 inhabitants. This is a transversal, descriptive, clustered survey of a representative sample of the population according to the standard protocol recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The clinical review of target populations was conducted according to WHO codification. Of the 3173 subjects recorded, 3159 subjects consented to be examined or an examination rate of 99,55%. The prevalence of active trachoma was 8.67% (CI at 95% = 7.2 – 10.4). The prevalence of scar trachoma was 0.21%. The principal sources of water for households are surface water (41%) and drilling water (41%). The prevalence of active and scar trachoma, risk factors are discussed. In our study, trachoma appeared as a public health problem in the health district of Fria. The prevalence of active and scar trachoma is approaching WHO limit. Poor hygiene was the main risk factor. The implementation of the different components of the strategy SAFE in this locality is a necessity.

Highlights

Trachoma is a chronic keratoconjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, human-to-human transmission via nasal, ocular secretions and most likely favoured by flies that are passive vectors [1]
In Senegal, the 2003 study showed a prevalence of active trachoma of 10.8% and 1.2% of intense trachoma in children aged 0 to 10 years, those of entropion trichiasis and corneal opacities in women over 14 years of age were estimated to be 2.6% and 1.4% respectively. [5]
The explanation comes from the fact that the female sex, even at a young age, would be more exposed to trachoma than the male sex, due to the role played by women in African society b) The age: In our study we found only the high prevalence of active trachoma in 5-year-olds with 17.96% followed by 6-yearolds with 15.63%

Summary

Introduction

An epidemiological study was conducted in 2014 in the Health District of Fria (Northern Guinea province) to assess the prevalence of active and scar trachoma in a suspected endemic area of approximately 120-135 inhabitants. This is a transversal, descriptive, clustered survey of a representative sample of the population according to the standard protocol recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Trachoma is a chronic keratoconjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, human-to-human transmission via nasal, ocular secretions and most likely favoured by flies that are passive vectors [1] It is a major cause of blindness worldwide and one of the leading causes of infectious and preventable blindness worldwide [1]. The same was true for entropion-trichiasis (2.7%) and central corneal opacities (0.8%) in women over 14 years old. [6]

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