9 Myths About Trachoma
MYTH # 1
“Trachoma does not blind Indigenous
Australians.”
Trachoma causes 9% of blindness in Indigenous
Australian adults. In Central Australia 5% of
people over 40 years have corneal scarring from
trachoma. The rates are comparable to the worst
affected communities in Africa. (NIEHS)
MYTH # 2
“Trachoma isn’t an important problem.”
163 communities in Australia still need
trachoma intervention, 33% exceed WHO active
trachoma thresholds (5%) and 8% are still hyper
endemic (>20%). Trichiasis rates are 10 times the
WHO threshold (0.1%). (NTSRU)
MYTH # 3
“Other infections are more important than
Trachoma.”
Trachoma and other programs work together to
keep children and families healthy and strong.
Combining hygiene messages and antibiotics will
reduce both trachoma and other infections.
MYTH # 4
“Its normal for kids to have dirty faces.”
Children can easily get their faces dirty while
playing, but always having eye and nose
secretions on their faces is neither normal nor
healthy. Infected eye and nose secretions
transmit trachoma.
Every dirty face is a health hazard.
MYTH # 5
“Old people usually have sore eyes and
poor vision.”
It is not normal for older people to have sore eyes
or poor vision.
Clinics must check for trichiasis (in-turned lashes)
before treating sore eyes and refer them if further
treatment is needed.
Melbourne School of
THE UNIVERSITY OF
MELBOURNE
Population
& Global
Health
MYTH # 6
“Trachoma elimination is not possible in
Indigenous communities because people
move around.”
This is a logistic challenge, however trachoma
elimination programs are synchronized and
delivered regionally to reach those who travel.
Most transmission occurs within the household
and visitors only provide a secondary source of
infection.
MYTH # 7
“Trachoma and chlamydia are the same.”
The bacterial strain of Chlamydia trachomatis
causing trachoma differs from the genital strain.
Chlamydial STI is caused by closely sharing
infected genital secretions.
Trachoma is caused by closely sharing infected
eye secretions.
MYTH # 8
“Trachoma will not be eliminated until
Aboriginal housing is improved.”
Poor housing, poor plumbing and taps that don’t
work are important risk factors for a number of
diseases including trachoma.
However, the elimination of trachoma does not
need to wait until all Indigenous housing is
improved.
If faces are
disappear.
kept
clean,
trachoma
will
MYTH # 9
“Trachoma elimination is impossible
because the workforce changes frequently.”
The workforce in remote health services is
transient and so ongoing training for clinical staff is
required.
NIEHS - National Indigenous Eye Health Survey: Minum Barreng (Tracking Eyes):
Indigenous Eye Health Unit, School of Population and Health, University of
Melbourne, 2008. ISBN: 9780734041142.
NTSRU - Australian Trachoma Surveillance Report 2013. National Trachoma
Surveillance and Reporting Unit, The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales.
For online training resources and
other material
www.iehu.unimelb.edu.au