prevalence of trachoma in 3～7 years old children in nanzheng county of shaanxi province

METHODS: An epidemiological survey was carried out in Nanzheng County in 2013. Children aged 3～7 years were selected by a cluster sampling. Fifty elementary school children and 1 533 preschool children were selected for rapid assessment and extend screening of trachoma. All children were examined under magnifying glass by oculist. A simplified trachoma classification system which was recommended by the World Health Organization was adopted in the survey. Statistical significance was calculated using Chi-square tests.

RESULTS: For the 50 students aged 6～7 in rural area, there was no active trachoma cases in rapid assessment. In the extended screening in 1 533 children aged 3～6 in country town, no case of active trachoma, trachomatous trichiasis or corneal diseases were examined.

CONCLUSION: No active trachoma case was detected in Nanzheng county,which was far below the proportion of 5% in non endemic area according to the WHO criteria and is not a public health problem in Shaanxi province.