Trachoma
Trachoma is a preventable infectious eye disease caused by repeated infections with eye strains of the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. It causes painful blindness in older people who have had severe active trachoma usually in childhood.
Australia is the only developed country with blinding trachoma. It remains an important cause of blindness in Aboriginal adults. To eliminate trachoma, The World Health Organisation recommends a multi-faceted strategy called SAFE (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvements). The Trachoma Program for the NT is based at the Central Australia Centre for Disease Control.
Information for health professionals
| Type | Resource | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Document | Trachoma fact sheet PDF (132.0 KB) | NT Health |
| Webpage | NT Health Trachoma Program | NT Health |
| Webpage | Australian Trachoma Surveillance Reports | The Kirby Institute (UNSW) |
| Webpage | Indigenous Eye Health Unit | The University of Melbourne |
| Online modules | Trachoma e-learning | Remote Area Health Corps |
| Document | Trachoma – CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care |
| Tropical Health Orientation Manual for health practitioners in Northern Australia | Trachoma | Centre for Remote Health |
Information for the public
| Type | Resource | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Webpage | Trachoma | NT Government |
| Webpage | Trachoma | Health direct |
Contact
Contact the Public Health Unit’s Centre for Disease Control.
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