India Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health Problem

Source: This post on India Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health Problem has been created based on the article “India has eliminated trachoma, says WHO” published in The Hindu on 9^th October 2024.

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. Environmental Factors Influencing Transmission: Inadequate hygiene practices, Overcrowded living conditions, Limited access to water and Insufficient sanitation facilities.

8. Impact on Women: Women are blinded up to four times more often than men, likely due to frequent close contact with infected children.

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.

Key Initiatives to Combat Trachoma in India

1.Launch of the National Trachoma Control Program (1963): India initiated this program to establish a structured approach for managing trachoma. Key components included Surgical Treatment, Antibiotic Distribution, Facial Cleanliness Promotion and Environmental Improvements.

2. Integration into National Programmes (1976): Trachoma control was incorporated into the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), allowing for continued funding and strategic focus on trachoma elimination.

3. Progress: In 2005, trachoma caused 4% of blindness cases in India, but by 2018, this dropped to just 0.008%. Impact assessments and trichiasis-only surveys confirmed elimination targets were met in all previously endemic areas.

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