Acedapsone in the prevention of leprosy: field trial in three high prevalence villages in Micronesia.

Abstract

The 1,659 non-leprous people in a Micronesian population experiencing an annual leprosy incidence rate of about 7/1,000 were offered 15 acedapsone (DADDS) injections during 1967--1970 for leprosy prevention purposes. Subsequent annual surveillance showed an initial cessation of new cases during the 3-year DADDS campaign, followed by a resumption of cases thereafter at a yearly level of about 2/1,000 with a longer pause and slower rise among those who received the full regimen. A secondary wave of cases that has occurred since 1973 among children born after 1968 shows that post-campaign transmission occurred, probably principally from relapsing multibacillary cases with onset before the campaign. Recommendations are made for a balanced, long-term control program with DADDS preventive treatment limited to contacts of multibacillary cases.

• Authors: D A Russell, R M Worth, B Jano, P Fasal, C C Shepard
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 28 Issue 3 Pg. 559-63 (May 1979) ISSN: 0002-9637 [Print] United States
• PMID: 453449 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Acedapsone
• Dapsone

Topics

• Acedapsone (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Child
• Dapsone (analogs & derivatives)
• Drug Resistance, Microbial
• Humans
• Leprosy (epidemiology, prevention & control, transmission)
• Micronesia
• Patient Compliance
• Recurrence