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Home / IAS Preparation / Trachoma

Trachoma- Causes and Symptoms, Treatment, and Global Distribution for UPSC!

Last Updated on Nov 21, 2024
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Trachoma is a disease of the eye. Trachoma is caused by the infection of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Trachoma disease has become a public health problem in 42 countries around the world. It is the leading cause of blindness or visual impairment in the world. Trachoma has caused blindness to about 1.9 million people. According to the WHO, 125 million people live at risk of trachoma blindness in trachoma-endemic areas.

Trachoma is a disease that requires national awareness and is important for our UPSC Exam. Questions related to trachoma disease can be asked in the preliminary exam and in the GS-III paper in the science and technology section.

In this topic, we will study the trachoma disease, causes and symptoms of Trachoma, stages of trachoma development, treatment, and prevention of Trachoma, global distribution of Trachoma, and its status in India. Register for UPSC Online Classes at an affordable price through the "UPSC CSE Coaching" to boost your IAS preparation. 

What is Trachoma?
  • Trachoma is an eye infection caused by bacteria named Chlamydia trachomatis.
  • Trachoma is a contagious disease. 
  • It spreads through contact with the eyes, eyelids, and nose or throat secretions of infected people. 
  • It can also be transmitted by handling infected items, such as handkerchiefs, etc.

Study the Article Zoonotic Disease here.

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Trachoma Symptoms

The trachoma symptoms are visible through the eyes. The major trachoma symptoms include 

  • A trachoma eye might experience mild itching and irritation of the eyes and eyelids
  • Eye discharge that may contain mucus or pus
  • Swelling of the Eyelid 
  • Trachoma disease might cause photophobia, i.e. more sensitivity towards the Light.
  • Experiencing pain in the eye
  • Redness of the Eye 
  • Loss of Vision 

Usually, young children are more vulnerable to trachoma disease infection. However, the disease progresses at a slow pace. The more painful trachoma symptoms may not emerge until adulthood.

Learn about some Health Issues Here!

Stages of Trachoma 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 5 main stages in the progression of trachoma disease. 

Stages 

Name of Stage 

Trachoma Symptoms 

Stage-I

Trachomatous inflammation - follicular (TF)
  • It is an early stage of infection. 
  • It has five or more follicles.
  • The small bumps are visible with magnification on the inner surface of your upper eyelid
  • The bumps contain lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell.

Stage-II

Trachomatous inflammation - intense (TI)
  • The trachoma eye becomes very infectious.
  • It causes irritation in the trachoma eye.
  • Thickening or swelling of the upper eyelid took place in this stage.

Stage-III

Trachomatous scarring (TS)
  • Repeated trachoma infections lead to scarring of the inner eyelid.
  • The scars look like white lines when examined with magnification.

Stage-IV

Trachomatous trichiasis (TT)
  • Inward turning of eyelashes happens in this stage.
  • Continued deformation of the scarred inner lining of the eyelid.
  • The inward turning of the eyelash causes scratches on the transparent cornea.

Stage-V

Corneal Clouding- Opacity
  • The continuous inflammation and scratching from the in-turned lashes result in clouding of the cornea.

Without trachoma treatment, the trachoma disease that begins in childhood can continue to advance trachoma stages in adulthood.

Read about Japanese Encephalitis here!

Trachoma Causes 

Trachoma is caused by the subtypes of Chlamydia trachomatis. It is a bacterium disease.

The major trachoma causes include,

  • Trachoma is caused by coming in contact with the affected person. It can happen through contact with Hands, clothing, towels, etc. 
  • Insects like eye-seeking flies are also a means of transmission. 

Factors Support Trachoma Infections

  • Crowded living conditions- People living in close contact with affected people are at greater risk of spreading infection.
  • Poor sanitation conditions, inadequate access to clean water, and lack of cleanliness and hygiene
  • Age- Trachoma disease is most common in children ages 4 to 6.
  • Sex- the women's rate of contracting trachoma disease is two to six times higher than men's. This may be attributed to the fact that women have more contact with children, who are the primary reservoir of infection.
  • People who are living in low sanitation areas with problems controlling the fly population may be more susceptible to infection.

Read the Article Types of Vaccines.

Modes of Transmission of Trachoma Disease
  • Trachoma disease is spread through contact with discharge from the affected person. 
  • Person-to-person contact like hand Shake.
  • Insects 
  •  sexually transmitted

Trachoma Treatment
  • Trachoma is caused by bacteria. The trachoma treatment can be done by antibiotics or surgery. 
  • There is no vaccine available for Trachoma diseases. 

Trachoma Prevention

Trachoma is a worldwide disease. The blindness caused by Trachoma is irreversible. Even after the trachoma treatment, reinfection is always a concern. Thus Trachoma prevention is a step in the right direction. The important measures for trachoma prevention are, 

  • Regular Face washing and hand washing. 
  • Clean faces and hands help in breaking the cycle of reinfection.
  • Fly control can help eliminate a source of transmission.
  • Proper waste management, including animal and human waste disposal 
  • Improved access to clean drinking water. 
  • Improve hygienic conditions.
  • Community-based implementation of the SAFE strategy announced by the WHO. 

Learn about Malnutrition in India Here!

Global Distribution of Trachoma Disease 
  • The trachoma disease is endemic in many of the poorest and most rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. 
  • Trachoma is a disease of the eye. It became the leading cause of blindness or visual impairment.
  • Trachoma has caused blindness or partial vision loss to about 1.9 million people. It amounts to about 1.4% of all blindness worldwide. 
  • Africa is the most affected continent.
  • As of 2022, 15 countries have been validated by WHO to eliminate Trachoma as a public health problem. 

Status of India

India has conducted the National Trachoma Survey. It revealed the following facts,

  • It surveyed active Trachoma among children and declared India free from Trachoma. 
  • The overall prevalence of trachoma disease in India is 0.7% only. It is below the elimination criteria of Trachoma defined by the World Health Organisation. 
  • Active trachoma disease is assumed eliminated if the prevalence rate of active infection is less than 5% among children below 10 years. 
  • Active Trachoma is no longer a public health problem in India.
  • India has fulfilled the goal of Trachoma elimination specified by the WHO under its Global Elimination of Trachoma by the Year 2020 (GET2020) program.
  • The efforts such as antibiotic eye drops, availability of safe water, surgical facilities for chronic Trachoma, improved hygiene, and environmental sanitation helped India to eliminate the disease.

Check the Article Human Immune System for UPSC.

Economic Impact
  • The WHO study estimated the total burden of trachoma disease on affected individuals and communities is enormous. 
  • The economic cost of lost productivity from blindness and visual impairment is estimated at US$ 2.9–5.3 billion every year.
  • The estimated cost increases to US$ 8 billion when trichiasis is included. 

Global Efforts to Eliminate 
  • The World Health Organisation adopted the SAFE strategy in 1993. The SAFE involves:
  • Surgery for trachoma treatment
  • Antibiotics to treat & prevent the infection
  • Facial cleanliness
  • Environmental improvements, High quality of water, sanitation & fly control
  • WHO launched a program in 1996 for Trachoma. It was known as the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020. The Alliance supports the implementation of the SAFE strategy by the Member States and capacity building through epidemiological surveys, monitoring, surveillance, project evaluation, and resource mobilization. 
  • The WHO adopted a resolution in 1998 with the target of the global elimination of Trachoma as a public health problem by 2020. 
  • Later in the World Health Assembly in 2020, in the neglected tropical diseases road map 2021–2030, the target date extends to 2030 for global elimination.

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Trachoma FAQs

The trachoma disease becomes infectious during the second trachoma stage. The trachoma stage is called Trachomatous inflammation-intense (TI).

The African continent is the most affected region by Trachoma. It contributes to more than 85% of total active trachoma cases in the world.

Trachoma disease does not have any vaccine treatment.

Trachoma has many names. It is also known as Granular conjunctivitis, blinding Trachoma, and Egyptian ophthalmia.

Trachoma is a very infectious disease. Generally, Trachoma lasts for 2-3 months.
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