SUMMARY
Purpose:
To detect the prevalence and severity of trachoma in people from the upper Negro river region (Brazilian Amazan).
Methods:
On June 1997, 496 subjects between 5 and 82 years old (mean 46 years) were examined; 395 of them were indians (Aruak, Tukano e Maku) and 101 were mixed race townspeople. All of them were submited to a complete ophthalmological examination and conjunctival scrapping to obtain specimens that were stained by the direct immunofluorescense method (DIF). The WHO scheme was used to classify the different trachoma cases (TF, TI, TS, TT and CO).
Results:
Trachoma was observed in 139 (28.02%o) patients, with no correlation regarding sex or age. Frequencies of different grades of the disease were: 59 (42.44%o) cases of TF, 3 (2.16%c) of TI, 68 (48.92%c) ofTS, 5 (3.60%) of TT and 4 (2.88%c) of CO. Of these clinically diagnosed cases 91 (65.47%c) had a positive DIF test, with a sensitivity of 79.66%c and 100%c for the TF and TI forms.
Conclusion:
Despite the mild clinicai aspect in childhood, trachoma progressed and caused sequelae (TT and CO).
Keywords:
Trachoma; Direct immunofluorescense test; Indians