How is leprosy (leprosy) treated

The treatment of leprosy is done with antibiotics and must be started as soon as the first symptoms appear in order to achieve a cure. The treatment takes time and must be done at the health center or reference treatment center, usually once a month, according to the doctor's instructions regarding the medication and dose.

Treatment ends when healing is achieved, which usually occurs when the individual takes at least 12 times the medication prescribed by the doctor. However, in the most severe cases, when there are complications due to the appearance of deformities, physical therapy or surgery may be necessary.

Leprosy Remedies

The remedies that can be used to cure leprosy are the antibiotics Rifampicin, Dapsone and Clofazimine, in a combined form between them. These remedies must be taken daily and at least once a month the individual must go to the health center to take another dose.

The following table indicates the treatment regimen that can be used for adults and adolescents over 15 years of age:

Types of leprosy	Medicines	Treatment time
Paucibacillary leprosy - 1 single lesion on the skin	Rifampicin: 2 doses of 300 mg in one month Dapsone: 1 monthly dose of 100 mg + daily dose	6 months
Multibacillary leprosy - several skin lesions	Rifampicin: 2 doses of 300 mg in one month Clofazimine: 1 monthly dose of 300 mg + daily dose of 50 mg Dapsone: 1 monthly dose of 100 mg + daily dose	1 year or more

People with multibacillary leprosy, as they have many skin wounds, may have little improvement in just 1 year of treatment, so it may be necessary to continue treatment for at least another 12 months. People with single lesions without nerve involvement who cannot take Dapsone can take the combination of Rifampicin, Minocycline and Ofloxacin at specific treatment centers.

Side effects of these medications may include redness on the face and neck, itching and small raised red patches on the skin, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, yellowish color on the skin and eyes, bleeding from the nostrils, gums or uterine, anemia, tremors, fever, chills, bone pain, red color in the urine and pink phlegm.

How to treat leprosy in pregnancy

As pregnancy decreases the immunity of women, it is sometimes during pregnancy that the first signs of leprosy appear. The treatment of leprosy in pregnancy can be done with the same antibiotics because they do not harm the baby and can also be used during breastfeeding.

The newborn may have a slightly darker skin in the first days of life, but the skin tone tends to lighten naturally.

Home treatment

The home treatment for leprosy, or leprosy, is done with the aim of relieving symptoms, leaving the skin more hydrated and avoiding complications. This type of treatment must always be accompanied by the treatment indicated by the doctor with the use of antibiotics, since the home treatment is not able to promote a cure, only the control of symptoms.

1. How to care for injured hands

When the hand is affected, soak it in a basin of warm water for 10 to 15 minutes and then dry with a soft towel. Apply moisturizer, petroleum jelly or mineral oil to hydrate and check for other injuries or wounds daily.

Stretching and strengthening exercises can be indicated to improve hand and arm movement. When there is a loss of sensation in the hands, it can be useful to keep them bandaged or use gloves to protect the skin from possible burns when cooking, for example.

2. How to care for injured feet

The person with leprosy who has no sensitivity in the feet needs to observe them daily to see if there is any new injury or impairment. It is also recommended:

• Wear closed shoes to protect your feet from possible trips that can be very serious and that can even lead to the amputation of fingers or parts of the foot; Use 2 pairs of socks to protect your foot well.

In addition, you should wash your feet daily with soap and water and apply moisturizing cream to your skin. Nail cutting and callus removal should be performed by a podiatrist.

3. How to care for your nose

Complications that can happen in the nose involve dryness of the skin, runny nose with or without blood, scabs and ulcers. Thus, it is recommended to drip saline into the nostrils to keep them clean and unobstructed.

4. How to care for the eyes

Complications in the eyes can be dryness of the eyes, lack of strength in the eyelid, making it difficult to close the eyes. Thus, eye drops or artificial tears are recommended. It can also help to wear sunglasses during the day and blindfold to sleep.

Signs of improvement and worsening of leprosy

The signs that the disease is improving can be seen with the decrease in the size and amount of sores on the skin and recovery of normal sensitivity in all areas of the body.

However, when the treatment is not carried out as instructed by the doctor, there may be an increase in the size of the wounds and the appearance of other wounds in the body, loss of sensation and the ability to move the hands, feet, arms and legs when they are affected by the inflammation of the nerves, being indicative of worsening of the disease.

Possible complications

Complications arise when treatment is not performed and can include loss of ability to walk when the legs are affected and difficulty in personal hygiene when the hands or arms are affected. Thus, the person may not be able to work and take care of themselves.

In order to cure leprosy, it is important to have complete treatment, and it is the only way to cure the disease, because the drugs that involve the treatment kill the leprosy-causing bacteria and prevent the disease from progressing, preventing its worsening and worsening. Learn all about leprosy.