Experiencing trachoma symptoms means potentially severe eye problems will develop if left untreated. Trachoma is an extremely contagious bacterial infection, frequently found in both eyes rather than just one eye and spreading quickly via respiratory secretions discharged by infected people. Symptoms of a possible trachoma infection include:
• Mild itching
• Eyelid and eye irritation
• Blurred vision
• Vague pains in the eyes
• Pus or mucus in the eyes
• Extreme sensitivity to bright light
Generated by a specific subtype of the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, trachoma eye infections are caused by the same microorganism producing chlamydia infections. Within developing countries such as Africa, eye problems stemming from trachoma symptoms are almost 90 percent transmitted by flies that land on infected items and then carry the disease to humans. However, other modes of transmission can also include using the same towels, clothing or utensils touched by infected individuals.
In addition, certain factors promote transmission of trachoma and the ensuing eye problems as a result of trachoma symptoms. These factors are:
• Crowded living conditions
• Extreme poverty
• Poor sanitation/lack of working toilets
• Being female
• Inaccessibility to fresh water
The World Health Organization reports that worldwide, over eight million people suffer visual damage or blindness fro a trachoma infection. In Africa's poorest countries, trachoma symptoms affect nearly 40 percent of children under the age of six. Although untreated trachoma will lead to blindness, it is curable when stopped in its early stages.
Stages of Trachoma Symptoms
• Follicular inflammation--follicles containing white blood cells called lymphocytes appear on the inside the upper eyelid a day or two following exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis. Eye problems at this stage include minor itching and watering
• Intense inflammation--this is the most infectious time of the disease, with upper eyelids exhibiting swelling, irritation and itching
• Scarring of the eyelids--distortion or "turning in" of the eyelids occurs due to repeated, untreated infections. Scarring results in the patient experiencing vision problems and pain
• Ingrown eyelashes (trichiasis)--eyelid deformity causes lashes to turn inward and scratch the cornea, resulting in intense, stabbing pain
• Corneal clouding--when inflammation reaches the cornea, a secondary infection producing corneal ulcers occurs that nearly always causes partial or complete blindness
Treatment of Trachoma Symptoms
When eye problems are still in the early stages of the disease, medication needed to eliminate the bacteria consists of basic antibiotic eye ointments, such as tetracycline. Another antibiotic called Zithromax (oral azithromycin) is also effective but costs more than tetracycline.
The advanced stage of trachoma often requires surgery called bilamellar tarsal rotation to repair eyelid deformities that produce intense pain and ingrown eyelashes. In this procedure, the scarred eyelid is surgically rotated to prevent eyelashes from scratching the cornea. This procedure takes only about 15 to 20 minutes and presents an excellent prognosis for the patient.
However, when trachoma symptoms have advanced enough to irreparably damage vision, corneal transplants are essentially the only options available to improve such serious eye problems. However, at this point in the disease, the diagnosis is not good for patients receiving corneal transplants with the intention of restoring vision destroyed by trachoma.
Article Source: EzineArticles
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