India Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health Problem
Why in news?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized that India has eliminated trachoma as a public health issue. India is now the third country in the WHO Southeast Asia Region to achieve this significant public health milestone.
About Trachoma
1. About: It is the leading infectious cause of blindness globally.
2. Caused by: It is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular bacterium.
3. It occurs via direct or indirect contact with eye or nose discharges from infected individuals, particularly young children who are the main reservoir. Certain fly species can also spread the infection.
4. Prevalence: In endemic areas, active trachoma is common among preschool children, with prevalence rates reaching up to 60-90%.
5. Transmission: It is primarily transmitted within households; close contact with infected individuals increases risk. Although an individual’s immune system can clear single infections, frequent re-infections are common in endemic areas.
6. Disease Progression: Repeated infections lead to scarring inside the eyelid (trachomatous conjunctival scarring), which can cause the eyelashes to turn inward (trachomatous trichiasis). This results in pain, light intolerance, and potential corneal scarring, eventually leading to irreversible blindness if untreated.
7. Impact on Women: Women are blinded up to four times more often than men, likely due to frequent close contact with infected children.
8. Environmental Factors Influencing Transmission: Inadequate hygiene practices, Overcrowded living conditions, Limited access to water and Insufficient sanitation facilities.
9. Geographic Distribution: Hyperendemic in rural, impoverished areas across Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. Responsible for blindness or visual impairment in approximately 1.9 million people, accounting for 1.4% of global blindness. Africa is the most affected continent with significant control efforts underway.
10. Countries Eliminating Trachoma: As of October 2022, 15 countries, including Cambodia, China, Gambia, and others, have been validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.
Why in news?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized that India has eliminated trachoma as a public health issue. India is now the third country in the WHO Southeast Asia Region to achieve this significant public health milestone.
About Trachoma
1. About: It is the leading infectious cause of blindness globally.
2. Caused by: It is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular bacterium.
3. It occurs via direct or indirect contact with eye or nose discharges from infected individuals, particularly young children who are the main reservoir. Certain fly species can also spread the infection.
4. Prevalence: In endemic areas, active trachoma is common among preschool children, with prevalence rates reaching up to 60-90%.
5. Transmission: It is primarily transmitted within households; close contact with infected individuals increases risk. Although an individual’s immune system can clear single infections, frequent re-infections are common in endemic areas.
6. Disease Progression: Repeated infections lead to scarring inside the eyelid (trachomatous conjunctival scarring), which can cause the eyelashes to turn inward (trachomatous trichiasis). This results in pain, light intolerance, and potential corneal scarring, eventually leading to irreversible blindness if untreated.
7. Impact on Women: Women are blinded up to four times more often than men, likely due to frequent close contact with infected children.
8. Environmental Factors Influencing Transmission: Inadequate hygiene practices, Overcrowded living conditions, Limited access to water and Insufficient sanitation facilities.
9. Geographic Distribution: Hyperendemic in rural, impoverished areas across Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. Responsible for blindness or visual impairment in approximately 1.9 million people, accounting for 1.4% of global blindness. Africa is the most affected continent with significant control efforts underway.
10. Countries Eliminating Trachoma: As of October 2022, 15 countries, including Cambodia, China, Gambia, and others, have been validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.