Ten Years After Mass Treatment with Two Doses of Azithromycin for Trachoma Elimination in Rombo District – Kilimanjaro: Is Trachoma Still Eliminated? A Case Study of Kahe Mpya Sub-Village

Purpose: This study aimed at evaluating the long term impact of mass distribution of azithromycin in a community which had high prevalence of trachoma and documenting the current prevalence of trachoma.

Material and Methods: All residents of Kahe Mpya were given chance to participate in this study, in turn 575 residents participated. The conjunctiva of each consenting resident was examined for clinical signs of trachoma using WHO trachoma grading scheme.

Results: The overall prevalence of active trachoma was 4.7% versus 8.1% found 10 years back after the second dose of azithromycin and 3.4% during the elimination period in 2005. In children < 10 years of age the prevalence of active trachoma was 3.3% versus 16.3% found after the second dose of azithromycin and 2.6% during elimination. Children < 10 years of age carry the majority (70%) of the active disease. TS, TT and CO were 109(19%) cases, 7(1.2%) cases and 2(0.3%) cases respectively, and almost all of these cases were in the age group older than 30 years.

Conclusion: The prevalence of trachoma fell dramatically during the interventions period and continued to be low ten years after mass azithromycin distribution. Trachoma is still eliminated in this community. Complications of trachoma (TT and TS) still continue to develop.