Trachoma prevalence in preschoolers and schoolchildren in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil, 1992

Trachoma dispensaries were created in the State of São Paulo in 1938, when the incidence of trachoma was 10.9% in Botucatu. During the 1970s trachoma ceased to pose a public health problem. The disease reappeared in the 1980s, leading the São Paulo State Health Department to establish a control program as new cases were being detected in various parts of the State, including Botucatu. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of trachoma in preschoolers and schoolchildren and to implement a program to control the disease in Botucatu. A cluster sample of children were submitted to external ocular examination to detect signs of trachoma according to WHO criteria. Trachoma prevalence was 11.9% among the 1,393 children examined. All cases were treated with 1.0% tetracycline ointment and followed up periodically. Loss to follow-up increased from 1.6% for the first return visit to 62.4% for the last visit. The results showed the need to investigate the causes of non-compliance with the control program and the impact and effectiveness of treatment.