Epidemiological Impact of Multidrug Therapy in Leprosy Control, Lampang

Abstract

The Lampang Leprosy Project treatment standard has been changed since 1983. The multidrug therapy regimen has being used instead of Dapsone regimen. The regimen has affected the magnitude and pattern of leprosy epidemiology in Lampang. The average age of newly detected cases increased for 28.6 years to 36.7 years. The lepromatous case detection has been increased, and the proportion of older-age cases detection has also increased. These indicated the effects of multidrug therapy in reducing the infectivity and severity of leprosy in Lampang.