Estudo epidemiológico do tracoma em comunidade da Chapada do Araripe - Pernambuco - Brasil

Purpose: To perform an epidemiologic study on trachoma in the village of Serrolândia, Ipubi country, situated in the "Chapada of Araripe", interior of Pernambuco. Methods: A crosssection study on 1239 patients was accomplished in October and November 2002. The age of the patients ranged from 1 to 96 years (average 25.3 years). The examination was done a binocular magnifying lens of X 2.5 magnification following the clinical classification approved by WHO. Results: The diagnosis of trachoma was established in 250 (20.5%) patients, with a predominance of males. The mean age of the patients with follicular trachoma (TF) was 13 years and with cicatrizing trachoma (TS) was 49 years. The following stages of trachoma were observed: 107 (8.6%) cases of TF, 2 (0.2%) of inflammatory trachoma (TI), 139 (11.2%) of cicatrizing trachoma, 1 (0,1%) of trichiasis and no case of corneal opacities (CO). Conclusion: Trachoma in Serrolândia, Ipubi-PE presents low endemic potential (8.8% TF / TI), although being located in a low socioeconomic region of the "Chapada do Araripe", an area known as endemic. Thus, trachoma is not a serious public health problem in that community.