LAUSR

OBJECTIVE The study objective was to estimate trachoma prevalence in relation to seasonal variation among children. Methods Study Design was cross sectional and data was collected during all seasons of the year. After randomization of population units, 10% of them were identified by lottery and 5% of them were selected and examined for active trachoma case detection by simple random sampling technique. Total number of study participants were nine thousand seven hundred and ten (n=9710) from both urban and rural population units. The study was conducted during January -December 2018 during all three seasons of the year. After clinical examination, data was entered into a questionnaire Performa, which was used as tool for data collection. A Chi-square test was applied to compare trachoma cases among different seasons and among both boys and girls. RESULTS Maximum burden of disease (62.4%) was reported during spring and winter season. Both spring and winter seasons have six months duration. During summer season, 70(37.6%) cases were reported. A highly significant (<0.01) relationship was reported between summer and spring seasons and trachoma prevalence (p < 0.01). A high prevalence was noted among female children. CONCLUSIONS Higher prevalence of active trachoma was noted during summer season.