[Trachoma--an endemic and post-endemic problem]

Trachoma is a specific chronic keratoconjunctivitis, characterized by follicular and papillary hyperplasia of conjunctiva, pannus, and cicatrization in the late stages of the disease. The cause of trachoma is a bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis (serovar A, B, Ba and C). There are 146 million people in the world suffering from the active trachoma disease, and 5.9 million are blind because of it. WHO has set the goal to eliminate the blinding trachoma by the year 2020 (GET 2020 Program). The evaluation of the gravity of the disease has been made according to the Trachoma Simplified Grading System. In order to achieve the goal, it has used the SAFE strategy. The SAFE strategy comprises surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement, especially in water supply and regulated sewage. The endemic trachoma in Croatia is a thing of past. Patients with active disease are rare, usually misdiagnosed and inadequately or insufficiently treated. A recent epidemic of another chlamydial (oculogenital sexually transmitted) disease has forced us to approach the diagnostics and treatment of chlamydial diseases with full responsibility.