Trachoma – eye infection
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Fact sheet - Health conditions directory
Trachoma is a preventable eye condition caused by repeated infections with eye strains of the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis that lead to a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelid. These strains are different from the genital strains which cause the common sexually transmissible infection referred to as 'chlamydia'. It causes blindness in older people who have had severe active trachoma usually in childhood. It is the most common cause of infectious and preventable blindness worldwide. Trachoma occurs mainly in developing countries where living conditions are crowded and general hygiene is poor.
Public health management guidelines
Notification
Pathology laboratories
- Notification criteria for pathology laboratories (PDF, 55kB)
- Communications (notification procedure)
Notification resources
- List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions
- List of Public Health Unit contacts
- Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71) (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.