Investigative ophthalmology & visual science
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Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. · Oct 1993
Nonocular Chlamydia infection and risk of ocular reinfection after mass treatment in a trachoma hyperendemic area.
The presence of nasal discharge on a child's face increases the risk of active trachoma, suggesting that Chlamydia trachomatis in nasal secretions may be a possible source of ocular reinfection. The prevalence of chlamydia in nasal secretions and the risk of reinfection after mass treatment was investigated in a hyperendemic area of Tanzania. ⋯ These data do not support a role for nasal secretions in causing reinfection after treatment. One mass topical treatment alone is unlikely to be effective in trachoma hyperendemic areas as shown by the rapid re-emergence of infection.