trachoma

tra·cho·ma   (trə-kō'mə)    n.  A contagious disease of the conjunctiva and cornea, caused by the gram-negative bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and characterized by inflammation, hypertrophy, and formation of granules of adenoid tissue. It is a major cause of blindness in Asia and Africa. [New Latin trāchōma, from Greek trākhōma, from trākhus, rough.] tra·cho'ma·tous (-kō'mə-təs) adj.

Main Entry: tra·cho·ma
Pronunciation: tr&-'kO-m&
Function: noun
: a chronic contagious conjunctivitis marked by inflammatorygranulations on the conjunctival surfaces, caused by a bacterium of the genus Chlamydia (C. trachomatis), and commonly resulting in blindness if left untreated —tra·cho·ma·tous /tr&-'kO-m&t-&s, -'käm-&t-&s/ adjective

trachoma tra·cho·ma (trə-kō'mə)
n.
A contagious disease of the conjunctiva and cornea, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and marked by inflammation, hypertrophy, and formation of granules of adenoid tissue. It is a major cause of blindness in Asia and Africa. Also called contagious granular conjunctivitis, Egyptian ophthalmia, granular conjunctivitis, granular ophthalmia.

trachoma   (trə-kō'mə)  Pronunciation Key  A contagious disease of the conjunctiva and cornea, caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and characterized by granules of inflammatory tissue. It is a major cause of blindness in Asia and Africa.

trachoma

chronic inflammatory disease of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium-like microorganism that grows only within tissue cells of the infected host. The conjunctiva becomes thickened and roughened, and deformation may result. Extension of inflammation to the cornea occurs in varying degree; resultant scarring can lead to corneal opacity and blindness. Transmission occurs by personal contact with infective ocular secretions or indirectly by common use of a towel.

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