02419nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001653001300042653001000055653000900065653001100074653003600085100001500121700001400136700001200150700001600162700001500178700001100193700001500204700001100219245012900230856008900359300001300448490000700461520165900468022001402127       2016                            d10aTrachoma10aIndia10aEyes10aCornea10aBlindness Chlamydia trachomatis1 aMalhotra S1 aVashist P1 aGupta N1 aKalaivani M1 aSatpathy G1 aShah A1 aKrishnan S1 aAzad R00aPrevalence of trachoma in Car-Nicobar Island, India after three annual rounds of mass drug administration with azithromycin.  uhttp://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/asset?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0158625.PDF  ae01586250 v113 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>A high proportion of active trachoma infection in children of Car-Nicobar Island was reported through the Trachoma Rapid Assessment survey conducted in year 2010 by the same researchers. Annual mass drug treatment with azithromycin was administered from years 2010-12 to all individuals residing in this island for reducing the burden of active trachoma infection. A cross-sectional prevalence survey was conducted in the year 2013 to assess the post-treatment burden of trachoma in this population.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>In the 15 randomly selected compact segments from each village of the island, children aged 1-9 years were examined for evidence of active trachoma infection and participants aged ten years and above were examined for trachomatous trichiasis and corneal opacity.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>A total of 809 children (1-9 years) and 2735 adults were examined. Coverage with azithromycin for all the three rounds was more than 80%. The prevalence of active trachoma infection in children aged 1-9 years old was 6.8% (95% CI 5.1, 8.5) and Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT) was 3.9% (95% CI 3.2, 4.6). The risk factors associated with active trachoma infection were older age and unclean faces. The risk factors associated with TT were older age and lower literacy level.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Trachoma has not been eliminated from Car-Nicobar Island in accordance to 'Global Elimination of Trachoma, 2020' guidelines. Sustained efforts and continuous surveillance admixed with adequate programmatic response is imperative for elimination of trachoma in the island.</p>
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