[Epidemiological surveillance of trachoma in a school in a city of southeast Brazil].

INTRODUCTION

Epidemiological surveillance activities undertaken after the detection of an active trachoma case in the APAE-SP are described.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A total of 1,009 pupils, employees and household contacts had an eye examination. Treatment control was carried out at the institution 4 times at 45 day-intervals.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence was of 5.9%, 5.1% being of follicular trachoma (TF), 0.3% of intense trachoma (TF/TI) and 0.5% of cicatricial trachoma (TS). At the first control exercise 45.5% of the trachoma cases had no signs of the disease and 40.0% underwent treatment. At the last control exercise 20% were found to have been cured with no vestigial scars. Non-attendance was of 38.2%. The distribution of secondary cases showed great dispersion, suggesting dissemination throughout Greater S. Paulo.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The trachoma control activities do not show satisfactory results, perhaps due to the prolonged duration of the treatment and follow-up. The development of strategies of clinical intervention should be implemented for better control of the disease.