Treatments for Leprosy

Treatment list for Leprosy:

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Leprosy includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

• Antibiotics
• Anti-leprosy drugs

Treatments of Leprosy: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the treatments of Leprosy.

Leprosy: Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Treatment consists of antimicrobial therapy using sulfones, primarily oral dapsone, which may cause hypersensitivity reactions. Hepatitis and exfoliative dermatitis, although uncommon, are especially dangerous reactions. If they occur, sulfone therapy should be stopped immediately.

Failure to respond to sulfone or the occurrence of respiratory involvement or other complications requires the use of alternative therapy, such as rifampin in combination with clofazimine or ethionamide. Clawhand, wristdrop, or footdrop may require surgical correction.

When a patient's disease becomes inactive, as determined by the morphologic and bacterial index, treatment is discontinued according to the following schedule: tuberculoid, 3 years; borderline, depends on the severity of the disease but may be as long as 10 years; lepromatous, requires lifetime therapy.

Because ENL is commonly considered a sign that the patient is responding to treatment, antimicrobial therapy should be continued. Thalidomide and clofazimine have been used successfully to treat ENL at the National Hansen's Disease Center (NHDC); however, this treatment requires a signed consent form and strict adherence to established NHDC protocols. Corticosteroids may also be given as part of ENL therapy.

Any patient suspected of having leprosy may be referred to the Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center in Carville, Louisiana, or to a regional center. At this international research and educational center, patients undergo diagnostic studies and treatment and are educated about their disease. Patients are encouraged to return home as soon as their medical condition permits. The federal government pays the full cost of their medical and nursing care.

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Medications used to treat Leprosy:

Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Leprosy include:

• Dapsone
• Dapsoderm-X
• Clofazime - used as part of a combination therapy
• Lamprene - used as part of a combination therapy

Unlabelled alternative drug treatments include:

• Fluoroquinolone antibiotic
• Ciprofloxacin
• Cipro
• Gatifloxacin
• Tequin
• Grepafloxacin
• Levofloxacin
• Levaquin
• Maxaquin
• Moxifloxacin
• Avelox
• Norfloxacin
• Noroxin
• Ofloxacin
• Apo-Oflox
• Floxin
• Ofloxacine
• Sparfloxacin
• Zagam
• Trovafloxacin
• Trovan
• Trovan/Zithromax Compliance Pak

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