[Trachoma--an endemic and post-endemic problem]. / Trahom--endemijski i postendemijski problem.

Trachoma is a specific chronic keratoconjunctivitis, characterized by follicular and papillary hyperplasia of conjunctiva, pannus, and cicatrization in the late stages of the disease. The cause of trachoma is a bacterium, Chlamydia trachomatis (serovar A, B, Ba and C). There are 146 million people in the world suffering from the active trachoma disease, and 5.9 million are blind because of it. WHO has set the goal to eliminate the blinding trachoma by the year 2020 (GET 2020 Program). The evaluation of the gravity of the disease has been made according to the Trachoma Simplified Grading System. In order to achieve the goal, it has used the SAFE strategy. The SAFE strategy comprises surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement, especially in water supply and regulated sewage. The endemic trachoma in Croatia is a thing of past. Patients with active disease are rare, usually misdiagnosed and inadequately or insufficiently treated. A recent epidemic of another chlamydial (oculogenital sexually transmitted) disease has forced us to approach the diagnostics and treatment of chlamydial diseases with full responsibility.

Early detection of inborn dyschromatopsias in preschoolers and young schoolchildren.

Color vision is one of the most important factors of human vision. Early detection of color vision malfunction in children is of utmost importance, allowing parents and teachers to take appropriate and timely measures for children's future professional orientation. A cohort of 300 children aged 4-6 years (49-86 months) were examined by color vision testing and divided into three age groups of 4-5, 5-6 and > 6 years. Their ability to name the fundamental spectral colors and read Ishihara's pseudoisochromatic plates were recorded. The results obtained are presented in tables and figures. Data analysis showed the youngest group of children to be unsuitable for such testing of color vision. Numerical data revealed considerable percentage deviations as compared to the older groups. In addition, a great difference between the girls and boys indicated psychomotor development to be much faster in girls of that age. Generally, data obtained by the distribution of the results for the two older age groups were consistent with those found in the literature; thus, the authors propose an early examination for the detection of inborn chromatopsia to be performed in preschool children, but not before the age of five. Ishihara's pseudoisochromatic test can be useful in differentiating between dyschromatic and other children, but it is very difficult to implement for singling out dyschromates according to the protan or deutan type.