How to eliminate trachoma follicles

Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Trachoma follicles need to be treated regularly with antibiotic eye drops to kill the Chlamydia trachomatis and eliminate inflammation before they can be resolved.

Trachoma is a common ophthalmic disease caused by neglect of eye hygiene, such as rubbing the eyes with dirty hands, leading to the infection of the conjunctival tissues by Chlamydia trachomatis. The typical symptoms include eye congestion, redness, increased discharge, and a foreign body sensation. By using a slit lamp microscope for magnified observation, the doctor can see numerous follicles and scar formation on the inner surface of the patient's eyelid, as well as vascular pannus formation at the corneal limbus. Treatment involves using eye drops such as levofloxacin hydrochloride, rifampicin, and sulfacetamide sodium to kill the pathogen and thereby alleviate the symptoms.

(Please follow medical advice regarding medication.)

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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Trachoma has several treatment methods.

Trachoma is a chronic infectious conjunctival and corneal inflammation caused by Chlamydia trachomatis infection and is one of the leading causes of blindness. Around three hundred to six hundred million people worldwide are infected with trachoma. Treatment includes systemic and local ocular medication, as well as treatment for complications. Local treatments include 0.1% rifampicin eye drops, 0.1% tetrahydropalmatine eye drops, or 0.5% neomycin eye drops. Erythromycin or tetracycline eye ointments are used at night, with a treatment duration of at least ten to twelve weeks. Acute or severe cases of trachoma should be treated with systemic antibiotics. Surgical correction of trichiasis and entropion is crucial to prevent late-stage trachoma scarring that leads to blindness.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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The difference between trachoma and stye

Trachoma is a chlamydial infection, while a stye is an infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Trachoma manifests as the formation of trachoma follicles, hyperplasia, and inflammation on the inner surfaces of the eyelid and conjunctiva, with symptoms including redness, swelling, pain in the eyes, neovascularization of the cornea, and vascular pannus. A stye presents with redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the eyelid, mainly caused by inflammation. In terms of treatment, trachoma mainly uses rifampin eye drops; styes are treated with levofloxacin eye drops, and erythromycin or tobramycin ointment at night, with no hot compresses applied. Typically, a stye can heal within about a week, whereas trachoma requires a longer treatment period, and it is important to rest and undergo regular check-ups. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a physician)

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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The difference between trachoma and conjunctival concretions.

Trachoma is caused by Chlamydia infection, while eye concretions are generally caused by chronic inflammation leading to lipid accumulation. When the eyelids show symptoms of trachoma, proliferative follicles and proliferative tissues in the eyelids form cobblestone changes. The concretions are white and located subconjunctivally, generally deep enough not to affect the eyes, but if superficial, they protrude into the palpebral conjunctiva and can cause certain wear to the eyes. Symptoms such as a foreign body sensation, burning sensation, and increased secretions can result from both trachoma and eye concretions. For treatment, eye drops are used for trachoma, and the eye concretions are removed under topical anesthesia, which alleviates the symptoms.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng
Ophthalmology
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How is trachoma transmitted?

Trachoma is somewhat contagious. When it is confirmed as trachoma, the eyelids and the conjunctiva of the eyes will carry the bacterium due to Chlamydia infection. When patients touch their eyes with their hands, their fingers or palms are already carrying the bacteria, including Chlamydia. Therefore, when they come into contact with others, cross-infection can occur. Prevention of trachoma primarily involves avoiding contact infection, improving environmental hygiene, enhancing the sanitary management of service industries such as hotels, swimming pools, and barber shops, and developing good hygiene habits, including avoiding rubbing the eyes with hands.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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How to treat trachoma stage 2?

Trachoma stage two requires treatment with antibiotic eye drops to kill the Chlamydia infecting the conjunctival tissue, thus alleviating symptoms. Commonly used eye drops include rifampicin, sodium sulfacetamide, and levofloxacin hydrochloride. Trachoma is a common eye disease caused by poor eye hygiene, such as rubbing the eyes with dirty hands, sharing personal hygiene items like basins and towels with others, or using unclean water to wash the face. It is imperative to treat the infection with medication as quickly as possible and to develop good eye hygiene habits to prevent the condition from worsening or spreading to family and friends. If trachoma is not treated promptly, it could lead to complications such as entropion, dry eye syndrome, and corneal vascularization. (Please follow medical advice regarding medication.)