title: [Trachoma: epidemiologic study in students in Alagoas State--Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the detection rate of trachoma in scholars from Alagoas--Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample included 6,424 children and adolescents. Scholar's clinical evaluation was performed by medical students under the supervision of professors of the Department of Ophthalmology, according to the World Health Organization guidelines. The clinical evaluation was characterized by eyelashes, eyelids, conjunctiva and cornea examination in both eyes. The scholars were cataloged and data of name, sex, age, clinical forms diagnosis and city were recorded. Regarding the age, the students were divided into three groups: group A (<10 years old), group B (10-14 years old) and group C (>14 years old).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The detection rate of trachoma was 4.5%. From 3,280 male scholars, 161 (4.9%) cases were confirmed; from 3,144 female scholars, 131 (4.2%) cases were considered confirmed. From the total scholars in group A, B and C; respectively 175 (5.3%), 113 (8.0%) and 4 (1.6%) were considered confirmed cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this region, it seems that trachoma has not been eradicated and, therefore, must remain as a differential diagnosis of chronic follicular conjunctivitis in children and adolescents from this region.
authors: Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. renatowendell@hotmail.com
authors: Renato Wendell Ferreira
authors: RW
authors: Damasceno
authors: Rodrigo Ribeiro
authors: RR
authors: Santos
authors: Thiago Rodrigues Tavares
authors: TR
authors: Cavalcanti
authors: Richard Yudi
authors: RY
authors: Hida
authors: Mário Jorge
authors: MJ
authors: Santos
authors: Andréa Maria Cavalcante
authors: AM
authors: Santos
authors: Paulo Elias Correa
authors: PE
authors: Dantas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014141:Trachoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*