A patient with leprosy had slightly erythematous, anesthetic plagues on the trunk and upper limbs. He was treated with paucibacillary multidrug therapy (PB-MDT) for 6 months. At the end of 6 months, he had persistent erythema and induration in the plaque. The next step of action recommended by the WOrld Health Organization (WHO) in such a patient is -
<p> Stop antileprosy treatment. According to WHO treatment guidelines for leprosy -all MB patients who have completed 12 or more doses of WHO MDT for Multibacillary leprosy &;should be regarded as cured&; and removed from the registers. It is not necessary to give MDT to PB patients until clinical inactivity . In a large number of patients it is not possible to clinical inactivity in six months even though all organisms are killed. Reference:Park&;s textbook of preventive and social medicine,K.Park,21st e pg no.299,22nd edition,page no:298 and WHO website.. <\p>
Stop antileprosy treatment
Continue PB-MDT till erythema subsides
Biopsy the lesion to document activity
Continue dapsoen alone for another 6 months
Communicable diseases