Treatment of Leprosy

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease and public health problem. It presents a broad spectrum of clinical and histopathological manifestation which reflect the nature of individual's nnmune response to mycobacterium leprae.

Leprosy produces disability and deformity through nerve damage

(e.g cranial nerve and peripheral nerve trunks).

Because of the bacterial resistance induced by monotherapy, it has been necessmy to develop and implement effective multidmg treatment of leprosy patients.

On the basis of the available information and taking into account that a single lesion leprosy may be cured by a regimen other thm1 the standard MDT. The WHO Expert Committee on Leprosy concluded that patients could be classified into three groups. 1- Paucibacillary single lesion leprosy (one skin lesion).

2- Paucibacillaty leprosy (PB) (2-5 skin lesions). This group included all polar tuberculoid (TT), borderline tuberculoid (BT) and indetenninate (I).

3- Multibacillmy leprosy (MB) (more than 5 skin lesions). This group consists of polar lepromatous (LL), borderline lepromatous (BL) and mid-borderline (BB) patients. However, all patients showing smear positivity should be classified as having multibacillary leprosy for the purpose of MDT programmes.

There are cunently six potent durgs available for use m MDT regimens of limited duration, none of which should be used as monotherapy.