Trachoma in northeastern Zaire: a study of 22 cases

Over a four-year period between 1987 and 1991, twenty-two patients with trachoma were diagnosed in northeastern Zaire at the Nyankunde Eye Project. Sixteen patients were over 15 years old. Females were more predominant than males. Twenty patients lived within 100 kilometers of the Uganda-Zaire border. Scarring or blinding trachoma was more common than inflammatory trachoma. Tetracycline eye ointment or lid rotation was applied according to trachoma grade. Lack of water appears to be the most important risk factor.