Incidence and progression of trachomatous scarring in a cohort of children in a formerly hyper-endemic district of Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness. Repeated or persistent ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in childhood leads to conjunctival scarring, usually in adulthood but often earlier in areas with greater disease burden. There are limited longitudinal data examining change in scarring in children, especially where trachoma rates are low.

Methodology/principal findings

A cohort of children, ages 1-9 years, were randomly selected at baseline from 38 communities in Kongwa, Tanzania and followed for 2 years. Rates of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) were <5% over the survey period. At baseline, 1,496 children were recruited and 1,266 (85%) were followed-up. Photographs were obtained at baseline and follow-up and graded for the presence

SUBMITTER: Kashaf MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7561178 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature