Trachoma Symptoms

  Trachoma is a chronic, infectious eye disease involving the conjunctiva and cornea caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, but it can lead to a variety of serious complications, resulting in severe visual impairment and even blindness. Its occurrence and development are closely related to the social environment, hygiene habits, living conditions, living environment, medical conditions and other factors. The causative microorganism is Chlamydia trachomatis serotype A, B, C or Ba infection, and active trachoma is most often seen in areas with poor sanitation, especially in children.  Acute trachoma can cause itchy eyes, foreign body sensation, dry eyes, and burning sensation, as well as photophobia, tearing, and more mucus or mucopurulent discharge, and can be combined with diffuse corneal epitheliitis and enlarged lymph nodes in front of the ear. On ophthalmologic examination, vague vascular congestion, papillary hyperplasia, or follicular formation in the superior vault and upper lid conjunctiva may be observed, and corneal vascular opacification may be seen. Scarring of the superior dome and/or upper lid conjunctiva. And trachoma inclusion bodies may be found on conjunctival scrapings.  The diagnosis of trachoma requires at least 2 of the following symptomatic criteria: 1) 5 or more follicles in the upper lid conjunctiva; 2) typical lid conjunctival scarring; 3) corneal rim follicles or Herbert’s hollows; 4) extensive corneal vascular opacification.