Authors: Qiao Lifeng, Lei Chuntao, Fan Yingchuan, Zhang Xiaoqi, Zhou Menglan
Abstract [Download PDF] [Read Full Text]
Background
Trachoma is a serious blinding eye disease.At present, the incidence rate of trachoma in China has been greatly reduced with the unremitting efforts of World Health Orgnization (WHO) and Chinese government.However, in some economically underdeveloped areas, there is still active trachoma.
Objective
This study aimed to survey the prevalence of children’s active trachoma in rural area of Naxi district and Jiangyang district of Luzhou city and assess the prevention and treatment outcome of trachoma during 10 years.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was performed in Naxi district and Jiangyang district of Luzhou city, the economic underdeveloping and water-starved regions in the year 2000.The active trachoma was screened in 214 school-age children with the male 113 and female 101 based on simplified trachoma grading system and trachoma rapid assessment survey standards and requirements of WHO.The symptoms of active trachoma were divided into trachomatous follicular (TF), trachomatous inflammation intense (TI), trachomatous scarring (TS), trachoma trichiasis (TT) and corneal opacities (CO). The epidemiological survey was re-assessed in 100 school-age children (with the male 58 and female 42) in these regions in the year 2013 to evaluate the prevalence change of children active trachoma during 10 years.
Results
In the year 2000, 214 children were screened in 4 villages of Naxi district and Jiangyang district, and the prevalence rate of TF was 49.07% (105/214) in the year 2000.The prevalence rate of TF was 49.05% (52/106) in the Naxi district and 49.07% (53/108) in the Jiangyang district, showing no significant difference between them (χ2=0.01, P=0.99). In the 100 school-age children who received survey in Naxi district and Jiangyang district in the year 2013, no TF, TF, TI, TS, TT and CO was found, showing no active trachoma.
Conclusions
The active trachoma has been controlled in rural areas of Luzhou city following the prevention and treatment of trachoma and the improvement of economic status in past decade.