[Trachoma: epidemiologic study in students in Alagoas State--Brazil].
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.
Damasceno
Renato Wendell Ferreira
RW
Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. renatowendell@hotmail.com
Santos
Rodrigo Ribeiro
RR
Cavalcanti
Thiago Rodrigues Tavares
TR
Hida
Richard Yudi
RY
Santos
Mário Jorge
MJ
Santos
Andréa Maria Cavalcante
AM
Dantas
Paulo Elias Correa
PE
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*