Current Global Scenario of Trachoma With Special Emphasis on the 'SAFE' Strategy: A Review

Trachoma is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) and one of the most common ocular contagious diseases, caused by different serovers such as A, B, Ba ,C of bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis that occurs recurrently. Most infants are adversely affected from chronic keratoconjunctivitis, leading to blindness in later life. Epidemiological studies in 2023 revealed that approximately 115.7 million people were at risk of trachoma, but presently it has been declined to almost 103.2 million. Basically this disease is predominant in least developed or developing nations with high poverty. Preventive measures being implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) , popularly known as ‘SAFE’ strategy: S for surgery, A for antibiotic dissemination, F for facial cleanliness, and E for environmental improvements. Now-a-days it is effectively and extensively applied; that’s why number of active patients are reduced drastically, but trachoma-free world creation should be the principal and researches will make it possible.