Open AccessThe impact of multiple drug therapy on leprosy disabilities
Author(s) -
Merlin Willcox
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
leprosy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2162-8807
pISSN - 0305-7518
DOI - 10.5935/0305-7518.19970045
Subject(s) - medicine , clofazimine , leprosy , population , incidence (geometry) , drug , intensive care medicine , clinical trial , dermatology , pharmacology , environmental health , physics , optics
In an overview of controlled trials, it is shown that bactericidal drugs increase the short-term risk of Type I reactions, but prevent the long-term development of new impairments caused by bacterial proliferation. Clinical experience suggests that the clofazimine component of multiple drug therapy (MDT) has reduced the incidence of Type II reactions or erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). The principal impact of MDT, compared with monotherapy, has been to reduce the duration of active disease, thus preventing the deterioration of disability scores. Reduction of population disability rates is mainly achieved by earlier detection and treatment. MDT has a number of indirect benefits such as improved compliance, decreased cost, and increased motivation and availability of leprosy workers. However, MDT must be supplemented by other measures to prevent and treat disabilities.