[Clinical evidence of trachoma in Colombian Amerindians of the Vaupés Province]

Abstract

Introduction: Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world. In 2008 there were 1,300,000 persons with blindness caused by trachoma and 8 million with trichiasis, which might eventually lead to blindness. In Latin America it has been documented in Brazil, Guatemala and México.

Objective: To inform the presence of trachoma for the first time in Colombia, amongst Amerindians of the Department of Vaupés.

Materials and methods: In 2003 and 2006 the Amerindian Makú communities of San Joaquín and Santa Catalina, located 5 km from the border with Brazil, were visited. From 2007 to 2009, San Gerardo, San Gabriel and Nuevo Pueblo, at a 35 km distance from San Joaquín were visited.

Results: In 2006 114 people were examined in Santa Catalina and San Joaquin; 21 patients were clinically diagnosed with trachoma (18.4%), 15 (13.2%) of them children under 15 years old. All trachoma phases were observed. Three women had corneal opacity with poor vision. In the remaining three communities, three women with advanced trachoma with corneal opacity and blindness were detected. The poor quality of living conditions without fresh water and adequate sanitary disposal systems, and the abundance of flies identified as Hippelates sp., are risk factors for the transmission of the disease.

Discussion: Trachoma exists in Colombia, and it is frequent among the studied communities. Its focalized distribution makes it amenable to elimination. It is advisable to search for trachoma in other indigenous communities in Vaupés with similar living conditions.