Trachoma - eye infection
Trachoma is a preventable eye condition caused by repeated infections with eye strains of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis that lead to a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelid. These strains are different from the genital strains which cause the common sexually transmissible infection referred to as 'chlamydia'. It causes blindness in older people who have had severe active trachoma usually in childhood. It is the most common cause of infectious and preventable blindness worldwide. Trachoma occurs mainly in developing countries where living conditions are crowded and general hygiene is poor.
Active inflammation from trachoma is usually seen in young children and adolescents. The highest rates of disease are found in children aged 3 to 8 years.
Trachoma infection often spreads from child to child and from child to mother, especially where there are shortages of water, numerous flies, and crowded living conditions. Repeated episodes of infection can cause chronic inflammation. If left untreated this eventually causes the eyelids to scar, thicken and turn inwards so that the eyelashes then rub the front of the eye (trichiasis). This constant rubbing can cause irreversible corneal scarring (opacity) and blindness.
Australia is the only developed country with active trachoma. Trachoma mainly occurs in remote and very remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. In 2008, cases were also found in New South Wales and Queensland, where trachoma was believed to have been eliminated. From 2009 additional efforts have been made to improve eye and ear health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Signs and symptoms
Trachoma infection can initially cause no symptoms or mild redness or discharge (conjunctivitis) which usually occurs 5–15 days after contact with an infected person. Diagnosis of trachoma is by clinical examination which shows pale round spots (follicles) or further changes on the inner surface of the upper eyelid.
Older adults with trichiasis often present with irritated watery eyes and if not recognized, referred and operated on, the trichiasis will lead to corneal scarring and blindness. Never give out soothing or lubricating eye drops without checking for inturned eyelashes (trichiasis).
Repeated infections, especially during childhood, may eventually lead to scarring of the eyelid which can then cause the eyelashes to rub against the front of the eye (cornea). Scarring of the cornea can cause it to look white or milky and is irreversible. The condition of in-turned eyelashes is known as trichiasis and can lead to blindness if not corrected by surgery to prevent further damage.
Cause
Trachoma is an eye condition caused by infection with certain strains of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. These strains are different from the genital strains which cause the common sexually transmissible infection referred to as 'chlamydia'.
Treatment
Trachoma is usually treated by a single dose of a specific antibiotic. Cases of active trachoma and their contacts should be treated at the same time and advised about preventive measures such as face washing and household environmental measures. Trichiasis can lead to blindness. The best way to prevent this is surgery. Throughout Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults over 40 years of age who resided in a remote community where trachoma was endemic during childhood should be examined for trichiasis each year by their primary health care provider either opportunistically or as part of their Health Check. Trichiasis screening should also be included in optometrist consultations. All cases of trichiasis need to be referred to an ophthalmologist. This referral should be at the earliest opportunity in order to preserve the person's sight.
Transmission
The key to transmission is the presence of unclean faces in children. Ways the infection are spread include:
- Direct eye-to-eye spread such as while playing or in close contact with each other, for example, when sharing a bed
- Spread by fingers contaminated with eye and nose secretions
- Indirect spread through sharing items such as towels or face cloths, handkerchiefs or tissues, and pillowcases or other bedding
- Flies are attracted to children with unclean faces especially when there are eye and nasal secretions on the skin of their faces. Flies land on their faces and pass the bacteria to other children.
- Coughing/sneezing.
Ongoing management
In addition to keeping children's faces clean, control of trachoma is achieved through:
- Good environmental hygiene including sanitation, garbage collection and disposal, disposing of animal waste, covering food waste and keeping waste away from the home.
- Identification and screening of communities who have previously had trachoma, or are identified as being at risk
- Annual screening in communities where trachoma is known to be common
- Antibiotic treatment of people with trachoma and all their household contacts
- Community-wide antibiotic treatment in communities where trachoma is very common
- Environmental, school and health promotion messages to raise awareness and improve housing conditions, sanitary and waste services.
Prevention
Where the number of active cases of trachoma suggest local community transmission, health services should work with the community to undertake screening of 5 to 9 year old children and where warranted implement an education program as part of a holistic personal hygiene program, population level treatment, and environmental evaluation. There are no Queensland communities currently known to have active transmission of infection.
The key to the prevention and control of trachoma is implementation of the SAFE strategy:
S – Surgery for trichiasis: Surgical procedures to reduce the impact of trichiasis.
A – Antibiotics: Antibiotic (azithromycin) treatment of individual active trachoma cases and to reduce the community reservoir of infection.
F – Facial cleanliness: Promote clean faces to reduce spread of infection.
E – Environmental health: improve water access, good sanitation, waste and fly control, and reduce overcrowding.
The key messages of "Clean Faces, Strong Eyes" are:
- Everyone should wash their face and hands regularly, particularly children
- Faces can be washed in a small amount of water. A couple of handfuls of water, one to wash the eyes and surrounding area and the other to wash the hands and the rest of the face, are sufficient. The use of soap, although good, is not necessary
- A clean face does not have eye or nasal discharge, flies, dirt or crusting on it
- Get rid of flies. Food and animal waste can attract flies which can spread trachoma infection. Place all waste in closed containers away from the home.
- Don't share towels and bedding
- Wash blankets, clothes, pillows and towels to help stop spread in the house
- Encourage everyone who interacts with children to be involved: Clinic staff, teachers, aunts, uncles, grandparents.
Health outcome
If there are episodes of repeated infection, the inside of the eyelid may be scarred so severely that the eyelid turns inward (known as trichiasis) and the lashes rub on the eyeball. This scars the front of the eye (cornea). If untreated, this can lead to permanent damage to loss of vision or blindness.
Other resources
Trachoma Resource Book (2010) (PDF) and Trachoma Story Kit (2012) and Clinic Flip Chart (PDF) (n.d.) Indigenous Eye Health Unit, University of Melbourne.
Communicable Disease Network Australia national guidelines for the public health management of trachoma (2013), Australian Government.
Australian Trachoma Surveillance Report 2021. The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society, The University of New South Wales.
NACCHO/RACGP National Guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 2nd Edition: The RACGP, South Melbourne, 2012.
Help and assistance
For more information on trachoma, people can talk to:
- Local doctor
- Health worker
- Local optometrist
- Ophthalmologist
- 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84)