Abstract
Purpose: :
Trachoma is one of major causes of preventable blindness in the world. Trachoma dispensaries were created in the State of São Paulo – Brazil, in 1938. During the 1970s trachoma ceased to pose a public health problem. This disease reappeared in the 1980s, leading the São Paulo State Health Departament to establish a control program as new cases were being detected in various parts of State. Since 1997 there were no cases detected in Bauru, São Paulo. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of trachoma in schoolchildren in Bauru.
Methods: :
A prospective random study was carried out in schools of Bauru, São Paulo. One thousand seven hundred and fourty nine children were examined between 6–12 years of age, during the year 2005. The diagnosis was clinical according to the World Health Organization protocol and the patients with clinical follicular trachoma had laboratory confirmation. The laboratory technique chosen was direct smear fluorescent antibodies cytology for Chlamydia trachomatis.
Results: :
Trachoma prevalence was 3,77% among the 1749 children. Follicular trachoma was diagnosed in 3,71% of children, and trachoma intense in one children. All cases were treated with azitromycin orally and followed up periodically.
Conclusions: :
the prevalence Trachoma in Bauru – São Paulo State – is 3,77%. A control program is necessary to prevent Trachoma blindness.
Keywords: trachoma • conjunctivitis • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence