RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To estimate the trachoma prevalence in school children in Embu das Artes - SP, aiming the implementation of the disease epidemiological surveillance. METHODS: The city of Embu das Artes - SP, is 25 km far from the capital of the State. In the years of 2003-2004, a trachoma survey was conducted in a cluster sample of school children with the same methodology of the national trachoma student's survey of the Ministry of Health. Previously to the trachoma active search, activities of health education were performed in all schools. External ocular examinations were done in all students to detect trachoma according to the WHO criteria. All cases of trachoma were notified and their families were submitted to an external ocular examination. The cases were treated with 1% tetracycline ointment or systemic azithromycin. RESULTS: 2,374 students from nine sampled selected public schools were examined. The prevalence of follicular inflammatory trachoma (TF) was 3.1% (IC 95%: 2.4-3.9), varying from 0.5% to 4.2% in the examined schools. The prevalence for males was 3.2% and for females was 3.0%. The greater prevalence (8.6%) was found in 6 year-old children. CONCLUSION: The disease showed a mild behavior in this city, because no cases of intense inflammatory trachoma or cicatricial trachoma were detected. However, the prevalence was greater than the one found in the city of São Paulo. Epidemiological surveillance activities of trachoma must be continuous, mainly in places where the greater prevalence had been found.
Asunto(s)
Vigilancia de la Población , Tracoma/epidemiología , Brasil/epidemiología , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Prevalencia , Estudiantes , Tracoma/diagnósticoRESUMEN
OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência do tracoma em escolares no município de Embu das Artes - SP, visando a implementação das ações de vigilância epidemiológica da doença. MÉTODOS: O município de Embu das Artes - SP dista 25 km da capital. Nos anos 2003-2004 foi realizado um inquérito por amostragem por conglomerados de escolares com a mesmo método do inquérito nacional de tracoma em escolares do Ministério da Saúde. Previamente aos trabalhos de busca ativa, foram realizadas atividades de educação em saúde em todas as escolas. Foi realizado exame ocular externo em todos os alunos para a detecção do tracoma, segundo os critérios da OMS. Todos os casos de tracoma foram tratados, notificados e seus familiares investigados. RESULTADOS: Foram examinados 2.374 alunos de nove escolas públicas sorteadas. A prevalência de tracoma inflamatório folicular (TF) foi 3,1% (IC 95%: 2,4% - 3,9%), variando de 0,5% a 4,2% nas escolas examinadas. Foi encontrada maior prevalência 8,6% em crianças com 6 anos de idade. CONCLUSÃO: A doença comportou-se de forma branda neste município, pois não foram detectados casos de tracoma intenso nem tracoma cicatricial. Todavia, a prevalência foi maior que a encontrada no município de São Paulo. As ações de vigilância epidemiológica do tracoma devem ser contínuas, principalmente nos locais onde foram encontradas as maiores prevalências.
PURPOSE: To estimate the trachoma prevalence in school children in Embu das Artes - SP, aiming the implementation of the disease epidemiological surveillance. METHODS: The city of Embu das Artes - SP, is 25 km far from the capital of the State. In the years of 2003-2004, a trachoma survey was conducted in a cluster sample of school children with the same methodology of the national trachoma student's survey of the Ministry of Health. Previously to the trachoma active search, activities of health education were performed in all schools. External ocular examinations were done in all students to detect trachoma according to the WHO criteria. All cases of trachoma were notified and their families were submitted to an external ocular examination. The cases were treated with 1% tetracycline ointment or systemic azithromycin. RESULTS: 2,374 students from nine sampled selected public schools were examined. The prevalence of follicular inflammatory trachoma (TF) was 3.1% (IC 95%: 2.4-3.9), varying from 0.5% to 4.2% in the examined schools. The prevalence for males was 3.2% and for females was 3.0%. The greater prevalence (8.6%) was found in 6 year-old children. CONCLUSION: The disease showed a mild behavior in this city, because no cases of intense inflammatory trachoma or cicatricial trachoma were detected. However, the prevalence was greater than the one found in the city of São Paulo. Epidemiological surveillance activities of trachoma must be continuous, mainly in places where the greater prevalence had been found.