Trial Of Ofloxacin In Paucibacillary Leprosy

Abstract

Sixty newly diagnosed cases of paucibacillary leprosy were studied for the efficacy of ofloxacin combined with rifampicin in the treatment of paucibacillary leprosy and to compare the combination with the standard WHO multidrug therapy (MDT). All patients were evaluated clinically and bacteriologically at the beginning and then monthly for six months. Histopathological correlation was present in 70% of the cases while divergence was seen in 30% cases. Clinically, at the end of one month there was significant improvement in the group which was treated with ofloxacin and rifampicin combination as compared to standard WHO multidrug therapy. However no significant difference among groups treated with ofloxacin, rifampicin combination or standard MDT was seen after 3 months or 6 months of treatment. There was also no significant difference whether ofloxacin and rifampicin were given for one month or three months