HEDDAONBROADWAY-COMMON DISEASE AND ITS REMEDIES

TRACHOMA

Trachoma is a chronic conjunctivitis caused by a virus. If not treated it may lead to blindness. The symptoms for one or two months the eyes are little red and watery. Then small pinkish grey lumps called follicles form inside the upper eyelid. The upper edge of the cornea looks greyish because it has many tiny new blood vessels in it, called pannus. The pannus grows slowly over the whole cornea. After several years the follicles slowly go, but there are scars which make the eyelids thick and they cannot be fully closed. Eyelashes turn inwards and scratch the cornea. Bacteria get in and cause secondary infection. All these things make the blindness worse. Treatment must be started early to prevent progress of the disease. 20% sulfacetamide eye drops should be put into the eyes three times a day for one month. It can be preventable by cleanliness especially of children’s faces, helps to prevent trachoma. Early and complete treatment of trachoma helps to prevent its spread to others. Flies can carry the infection. so should be prevented from settling on children’s face.