Clinical examination and laboratory tests for estimation of trachoma prevalence in a remote setting: what are they really telling us?
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Author
Wright, Heathcote R.; Taylor, Hugh R.Date
2005-05Source Title
The Lancet Infectious DiseasesPublisher
ElsevierAffiliation
Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences: Centre for Eye Research AustraliaSchool of Medicine: Ophthalmology
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Journal (Paginated)Citations
Wright, H. R., & Taylor, H. R. (2005). Clinical examination and laboratory tests for estimation of trachoma prevalence in a remote setting: what are they really telling us? The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 5(5) 313-320.Access Status
This item is currently not available from this repositoryAbstract
Worldwide, an estimated 84 million people have active trachoma and 7.6 million people have trachomatous trichiasis. WHO’s SAFE strategy is an effective tool in the worldwide effort to eliminate blinding trachoma, but its institution and monitoring requires a simple, reliable, and cost-effective method to detect disease. To date, clinical examination has provided the main method of diagnosis. Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis with nucleic acid amplification test does not always correlate well with clinical findings, which has prompted the suggestion that these methods should replace clinical examination. However, a review of the research carried out in animals and human beings suggests the relation between laboratory tests and clinical examination is due to the kinetics of trachoma and not to an inherent problem in either detection system. Given the increased difficulties of using laboratory tests in parts of the world where trachoma is endemic, we should not abandon clinical grading as a tool to asses the need for, and the effectiveness of, trachoma intervention programmes.
Keywords
CERA; ophthalmology; Centre for Eye Research Australia; eye research; vision; visual healthExport Reference in RIS Format
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