Prevalence of trachoma in the Republic of Chad: results of 41 population-based surveys

Trachoma: an underdiagnosed disease revealed by a survey carried out at Jaú, São Paulo

BACKGROUND

Trachoma is a notifiable disease in the state of São Paulo- Brazil. However, in Jaú, a municipality located in this state, in the last 10 years there are no records of cases. This study purpose is to assess if there are cases of inflammatory trachoma in schoolchildren aged 1 to 9 years in the municipality of Jaú as well if it is possible to detect clusters areas of the disease to establish elimination programs.

METHODS

An epidemiological study was performed in 2018, involving a stratified random sample of schoolchildren aged 1- to 9-year-old, from public day care centers and elementary schools in the municipality of Jaú. A trachoma screening following the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the distribution of cases was assessed using geoprocessing.

RESULTS

Four thousand-six hundred-nineteen children from 44 elementary schools were examined, and 126 children with active trachoma were detected, with an adjusted prevalence rate of 2.65%. The prevalence was higher (3.01%) in children aged 6- to 9-year-old compared to children aged 1-to 5-year-old (2.42%). There were clusters with a higher concentration of positive cases of the disease in three schools located in the neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic conditions.

CONCLUSION

Inflammatory trachoma still present in children aged 1- to 9-year-old in the city of Jaú. The positive cases were located mainly in areas with low socioeconomic conditions. Health promotion with active search and periodical treatment must be planned to fight this important blinding cause, that persists in our municipality.

Changing Indications for Penetrating Keratoplasty in Bahrain in a Tertiary Referral Centre

PURPOSE

To study the changing indications for Penetrating keratoplasty in Bahrain and to compare them with published data.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A Retrospective review of available records of patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty at a tertiary center in Bahrain (1996-2015). The trend of each indication was analyzed. The study was subdivided into three periods for correlation purposes. Pearson Coefficient r and the p values were used for interpretation of data. The results were compared with similar studies.

RESULTS

A total of 298 patients underwent keratoplasty in the study period, which is from 1996 until 2015 (missing data 2009-2011). Keratoconus was found to be the leading indication, accounting for 33% of the total cases, followed by trachoma 27%, followed by aphakic and pseudophakic bullous keratopathies 13%. Trachoma showed a statistically significant decreasing trend (p < 0.001), Keratoconus had an increasing trend (p<0.001). Bullous keratopathy showed an increasing trend (p = 0.001) with an abrupt rise after 2012.

CONCLUSION

Corneal scarring due to old trachoma was the leading indication for keratoplasty 20 years ago in Bahrain. However, due to improvement of health awareness, hygiene, and the socioeconomic status, this has regressed with keratoconus becoming the leading indication from 2002 onwards. A surge of bullous keratopathy was noted after 2012, placing it as the second commonest indication. This may be due to the introduction of phacoemulsification technique for cataract surgery, and perhaps because the nature of the institute being a teaching hospital. Keratoconus is the leading indication and showed an increasing trend. It is recommended to perform a keratoconus screening program for early detection and prevention.