Leprosy: Prevention

Prevention:

• primary:

1. no vaccine available
2. Vaccination against tuberculosis (TBC) also called BCG  (Bacille Calmette Guerin against tuberculosis) has some effect

• secondary=early diagnosis and treatment:

1. chemoprophylaxis (treatment of subclinical leprosy) (destined to those in potential contact) and immunoprophylaxis: single dose of rifampicine 300mg-600mg according to weight

• tertiary: prevention of disability

leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) and TBC

• BCG is effective in leprosy especially for avoiding complicated leprosy such as for miliary (multibacillary/lepromatous) and meningeal leprosy
• Rifampicin and BCG have an 80% protection rate. Rifampicin alone has a 58% protective affect and BCG only 57%

Source of information: Richardus JH. Chemo- and Immunoprophylactic Strategies in Leprosy Control. 2012 (02) – 20th Regional Conference of Dermatology (RCD) – Manila, Phillipines

Source of information: here