Related Experiment Videos
Face washing promotion for preventing active trachoma
H Ejere1, M B Alhassan, M Rabiu
1Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group, International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, UK, WC1E 7HT.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|July 22, 2004
Summary
Face washing combined with topical tetracycline shows promise in reducing severe trachoma and improving facial cleanliness. However, face washing alone or with antibiotics did not significantly reduce active trachoma in endemic communities.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Trachoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness, affecting millions globally, particularly in developing nations.
- Active trachoma impacts approximately 146 million individuals, with six million blind from its complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of face washing interventions on active trachoma prevalence in communities where the disease is endemic.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing face washing interventions with control groups.
- Searched multiple databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index; contacted experts for additional trials.
- Included two trials with 2560 participants; meta-analysis was not performed due to clinical heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- Face washing combined with topical tetracycline significantly reduced 'severe' active trachoma and increased facial cleanliness compared to topical tetracycline alone.
- No significant reduction in 'non-severe' active trachoma was observed with the combined intervention.
- Eye washing alone or with tetracycline did not show significant benefits in reducing follicular trachoma in children.
Conclusions:
- Combining face washing with topical tetracycline may be effective in reducing severe trachoma and improving hygiene.
- Current evidence does not support the efficacy of face washing alone or with topical tetracycline for reducing active trachoma.