Leprosy can be cured thru MDT
Published: November 13, 2006
Leprosy is a curable disease. This can be done through the use of Multi-Drug Theraphy (MDT). MDT is the use of two or more drugs, which are Rifampicin, Clofazamine (Lamprene) and Dapsone is for treatment of leprosy patients. [A Disease Apart: Leprosy in the Modern World]
Treatment with MDT is based on whether the patients have few or plenty of bacilli in the skin smears. Those with few bacilli are called Paucibacillary (PB) while those plenty are Mulitbacillary (MB). These patients are put on the appropriate MDT regimens.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), patients with Paucibacillary Leprosy will take 6 PB Blister Packs within 6 to 9 months. This PB Blister is taken once monthly by the patient in the clinic, Rifampicin 600 mg. and Dapsone 100 mg. under supervised dose with the presence of a health worker and Dapsone 100 mg. if under self medication.
The patient with Multibacillary Leprosy will take 24 MB Blister Packs within 24 to 30 months. This MB Blister is taken once monthly by the patient in the clinic, Rifampicin 600 mg., Lamprene 300 mg. and Dapsone 100 mg. under supervised dose with the presence of a health worker and if self administered medication, Lamprene 50 mg. and Dapsone 100 mg.
All leprosy patients who have been clinically examined and classified for purposes of treatment are eligible except those with a history of allergy or sensitivity to one or more of the drugs used and with active liver and kidney disease. Leprosy cases with tuberculosis will be given a modified MDT regimen.
Patients who are undergoing MDT treatment are advised to take drugs regularly until the regimen is completed, report to the clinic on the appointed date for monthly supervised dose and to replenish drug supply and report unusual symptoms observed during the course of treatment in order to gain the full benefits from MDT in appropriate time or under a prescribed period.
The Department of Health is informing everyone specially the community where there are cases of leprosy to identify and encourage persons who may have leprosy to report to the health center for diagnosis and treatment and for the family by just providing them with moral support so that they will be able to complete the treatment.
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: