Papers Treatment of leprosy with diaminodiphenyl sulphone (DDS)

Abstract

Diaminodiphenyl sulphone (DDS) in small doses is an effective control agent of leprosy if treatment is started early in the disease. The dosage in tablet form and taken by mouth, does not require the patient to give up work and does not involve any isolation of early cases. Active treatment takes upward of 2 yrs. and precautionary treatments should be continued[long dash]perhaps for life[long dash]to prevent possible relapses. If the disease has progressed very far isolation is advised but even in such cases DDS is still quite effective in lowering the possibility of contagion, but must be used with care as it may intensify the so-called"lepra" reaction[long dash]an anemic condition-to a dangerous degree. Use of B12 tends to counteract this anemia and marked improvement in the toleration of DDS follows[long dash]usually accompanied by a decrease in the bacteriological index. Thiosemicarbazone, streptomycin and chaulmoogra oil are valuable ancillaries to DDS treatment, but are not cures in themselves. DDS[long dash]like quinine[long dash]can be used without strict medical supervision and can be readily adapted to control and perhaps eliminate endemic centers through mass therapy. Only in advanced cases must strict medical supervision be practiced.