Duration of multidrug therapy in paucibacillary leprosy patients; experience in the leprosy control program of the All Africa Leprosy and Rehabilitation Training Center (ALERT) in Ethiopia
Becx-Bleumink, M.
International Journal of Leprosy and other Mycobacterial Diseases Official Organ of the International Leprosy Association 60(3): 436-444
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0148-916X PMID: 1474282 Accession: 002350003
Multidrug therapy (MDT), according to the recommendations of a WHO Study Group of 1982, was introduced in the leprosy control program of the All Africa Leprosy and Rehabilitation Training Center (ALERT), Ethiopia, in January 1983. Of 6042 paucibacillary patients who were put on MDT during a period of 7 years, 5485 patients (90.8%) completed the course of MDT; 437 patients (7.2%) did not fulfil the requirement for clinic attendance and either discontinued MDT themselves or the treatment was discontinued by the service. The remaining 120 patients (2.0%) either died, were transferred, left the control area or continued MDT after 9 months.