Mass treatment of trachoma with azithromycin 1.5% eye drops in the Republic of Cameroon: feasibility, tolerance and effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE
An epidemiological study carried out in 2006 indicated a high prevalence of blinding trachoma in the Kolofata Health District, Far North Region, Republic of Cameroon. As a result, the national blindness control programme of Cameroon instituted a trachoma elimination programme using the SAFE strategy.


METHODS
A campaign to treat the entire district population with azithromycin 1.5% eye drops was undertaken in February 2008. To measure the effectiveness of treatment on the prevalence of active trachoma, two epidemiological studies were conducted on a representative sample of children aged between 1 and 10 years. The first study was performed just prior to the treatment campaign and the second study was performed 1 year later.


RESULTS
The prevalence of active forms of trachoma (trachomatous inflammation--follicular (TF) + TF/trachomatous inflammation--intense (TI)) dropped from 31.5 (95% CI 26.4 to 37.5)% before treatment to 6.3 (95% CI 4.1 to 9.6)% 1 year after treatment-a reduction of nearly 80%. There were no reports of serious or systemic side effects. Tolerance was excellent and no treatment was interrupted.


CONCLUSIONS
Mass treatment with azithromycin 1.5% eye drops is feasible, well tolerated and effective.
Huguet
P
P
NMH/CPM/PBD, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. p.huguet@laboratoires-thea.fr
Bella
L
L
Einterz
E M
EM
Goldschmidt
P
P
Bensaid
P
P
D017677:Age Distribution; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001766:Blindness / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014141:Trachoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D017963:Azithromycin
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