Page 175 - LECTURE NOTES

7.12.4.1 Prevention and control measures

1. Case detection and treatment

Multidrug therapy (MDT) rapidly reduces the infectivity of patients, but is has not yet
demonstrated that it is able to prevent new cases occurring in the community.

2. Prevention of disability and rehabilitation

Activities aimed at preventing impairment and disability in leprosy patients are important

and depend on a good relationship between health worker and patient.

In order to prevent disability, early detection of cases is a high priority. However, early

detection and treatment with MDT will not prevent all nerve function impairment.
Therefore, patients should be regularly examined, so that reactions and new nerve

function impairment can be detected and treated appropriately.

7.12.5. Prevention and control of fungal infections
Normal skin is impenetrable to microorganisms. However, some microbes have

developed the ability to destroy the upper layer of the skin to enable their colonization.

Among the various infections of skin, infections caused by fungi (mycoses) pose a
major challenge. Warmth, humidity, sweating, over crowding and poor air circulation all

help bring about these fungal infections.

Because of all these factors, prevention is a matter of both personal hygiene and

minimizing contact with potential carriers or contaminated objects see the chart below
for guidelines on prevention.

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