Trachoma knowledge in Southern Khorassan, Iran

Abstract

Trachoma is a keratoconjunctivitis that causes ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). The chronicity and reinfection leads to increasingly severe inflammation that can damage the conjunctiva and cornea. The WHO (World Health Organization) is in alliance with the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020. This safe strategy includes: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics for active trachoma, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Although there is evidence which supports effectiveness of this approach, will it be eliminated by 2020? There are many old people who suffer from trachoma sequel in Southern Khorassan, Iran, thus discrepancy of clinical versus paraclinical diagnosis of active trachoma especially in a suspicious case remains unclear. Therefore, our negative result according to PCR approaches among 10 cases of clinically suspicious or definite trachoma will be an emphasis on clinical diagnosis. Key word: Trachoma, diagnosis, prevalence, elimination.