Trachoma prevalence and risk factors among preschool children in a central area of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and severity of trachoma among preschool children and to identify the risk factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional study involving preschool children up to seven years of age residing in a neighborhood of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Results: A total of 1128 children were studied. Although most were of low socioeconomic status, access to good sanitary services was virtually universal. The prevalence of inflammatory trachoma was 4.7%. In the bivariate analysis, being 4-7 years of age and having classroom contact with a trachoma case were associated with the disease. Multivariate logistic regression showed that contact with trachoma in the classroom was an independent predictor of trachoma.

Conclusions: Trachoma persists among children in low-income families, even in urban areas with good sanitation. To eliminate trachoma in a low endemic community, a sensitive surveillance system should be implemented to identify residual sources of infection.