BACKGROUND Approximately 1.9 million people have become blind or visually impaired from trachoma, the leading cause of infectious blindness. Trachoma prevalence surveys conducted in Sudan have shown that thousands of Sudanese suffer from the advanced stages of the disease, trachomatous trichiasis (TT), and warrant sight-saving surgery. Sudan's National Trachoma Control Program (NTCP) provides free TT surgery; however, given that many TT patients live in remote areas with limited access to health services, identifying patients and providing eye care services has proved challenging. For this reason, the Sudan NTCP piloted a systematic TT case-finding approach to identify patients. METHODS In Gedarif state, 11 villages in Baladyat el Gedarif locality and 21 villages in West Galabat locality were included in a TT case-searching activity from September to November 2018. TT case finders were selected from the villages where the activity took place and were trained by ophthalmic medical assistants to identify possible patients. RESULTS Of 66 626 villagers examined, 491 were identified as having TT by TT case finders. Of those, 369 were confirmed as true cases by the TT surgeons, a 75.2% (369/491) success rate. CONCLUSIONS The TT case-finding approach provides an example of an effective method for identifying TT patients and should be expanded to other parts of the country known to be endemic for trachoma.

中文翻译：

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在苏丹的两个地方试行沙眼性毛滴虫病患者病例搜索方法。

背景技术约有190万人因沙眼而成为视力障碍者，而沙眼是导致传染性失明的主要原因。在苏丹进行的沙眼患病率调查显示，成千上万的苏丹人患有该疾病的晚期，沙眼型倒睫（TT），并需要进行视力保护手术。苏丹的国家沙眼控制计划（NTCP）提供免费的TT手术；但是，鉴于许多TT患者生活在偏远地区，无法获得医疗服务，因此确定患者身份和提供眼保健服务已被证明具有挑战性。因此，苏丹NTCP试行了系统的TT病例查找方法来识别患者。方法在Gedarif州，2018年9月至2018年11月的TT案例搜索活动包括Baladyat el Gedarif地区的11个村庄和West Galabat地区的21个村庄。从开展活动的村庄中选择了TT案例发现者，并由眼科医疗助手培训确定可能的患者。结果在接受调查的66626名村民中，有TT病例发现者确定有491名患有TT。其中有369名被TT外科医生确诊为真实病例，成功率为75.2％（369/491）。结论TT病例发现方法提供了一种识别TT患者的有效方法的实例，应扩大到该国沙眼流行的其他地区。TT病例发现者是从开展活动的村庄中选拔出来的，并由眼科医疗助手培训以确定可能的患者。结果在接受调查的66626名村民中，有TT病例发现者确定有491名患有TT。其中有369名被TT外科医生确诊为真实病例，成功率为75.2％（369/491）。结论TT病例发现方法提供了一种识别TT患者的有效方法的实例，应扩大到该国沙眼流行的其他地区。TT病例发现者是从开展活动的村庄中选拔出来的，并由眼科医疗助手培训以确定可能的患者。结果在接受调查的66626名村民中，有TT病例发现者确定有491名患有TT。其中有369名被TT外科医生确诊为真实病例，成功率为75.2％（369/491）。结论TT病例发现方法提供了一种识别TT患者的有效方法的实例，应扩大到该国沙眼流行的其他地区。