Trachoma
A bacterial infection that affects the eyes. Trachoma is the leading preventable cause of blindness worldwide. It's very contagious Trachoma almost always affects both eyes. Symptoms begin with mild itching and irritation of the eyes and eyelids. They may progress to blurred vision and eye pain.Antibiotics treat early-stage trachoma. Surgery is required in later stages. Access to clean water and improved sanitation are key to prevention. Trachoma is the world's leading cause of preventable blindness of infectious origin .Caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis,trachoma is easily spread through direct personal contact, shared towels and cloths, and flies thathave come in contact with the eyes or nose of an infected person.Trachoma is caused by certain subtypes of Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium that can alsocause the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia.Trachoma spreads through contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected person. Hands, clothing, towels and insects can all be routes for transmission.Trachoma is caused by the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria and is essentially totally preventable andcurable. It is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world. Approximately 80 million people in the world have active trachoma. Trachoma was well known as an infectious ocular disease and documented as “ophthalmia”. The history of this disease began as early as 8000 B.C. In 1798, “Egyptian military ophthalmia” infected three thousand of Napoleon's troops in theEgyptian war, blinding many.
