trachoma

American  

[truh-koh-muh] / trəˈkoʊ mə /

noun

Ophthalmology.

1. a chronic, contagious infection of the conjunctiva and cornea, characterized by the formation of granulations and scarring and caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis.

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trachoma British  

/ trəˈkəʊmə, trəˈkɒmətəs, -ˈkəʊ- /

noun

1. a chronic contagious disease of the eye characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea and the formation of scar tissue, caused by infection with the virus-like bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis

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trachoma Scientific  

/ trə-kō′mə /

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• trachomatous adjective

Etymology

Origin of trachoma

1685–95; < Greek trā́chōma roughness, equivalent to trāch ( ýs ) rough + -ōma -oma

Example Sentences

Using education and simple, low-cost methods, the Carter Center’s health initiatives addressed “neglected tropical diseases”: lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis and malaria.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2024

The most feared of all diseases was trachoma, an infection of the eyes that did not kill but left its victims blind.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Given its limited resources, the Zambian government has to prioritize “mainstream” diseases that result in loss of life, like H.I.V., over neglected diseases like trachoma, he said.

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2022

These include elephantiasis, trachoma and Guinea Worm and are among 20 disease groups that mainly affect people in the poorest countries.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2021

He writes a T on her arm for trachoma, an eye infection.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool