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Cures for Leprosy
In the days before there were effective antibiotics, there were no cures for leprosy. People who had the disease were isolated and developed severe disabilities and disfigurements. However, antibiotics are now available, and early treatment often reduces the chances of any long-term disabilities that develop prior to successful treatment. The most common antibiotics used as cures for leprosy are dapsone, rifampin, and clofazimine.
Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, there were no cures for leprosy. Lepers were segregated for extended periods of time and developed severe disabilities and disfigurements as a result. Today, leprosy is easily cured with medicines. The challenge is in identifying people with leprosy early so that treatment for leprosy can begin. Early treatment can reduce the chances of any long-term disabilities that develop prior to successful treatment.
Leprosy can generally be cured with antibiotics that kill Mycobacterium leprae (the bacteria that cause the disease). Because Mycobacterium leprae can be resistant to certain antibiotics, a combination of antibiotics is often used. The three most commonly used antibiotics are:
- Dapsone
- Rifampin
- Clofazimine.
Treatment of leprosy differs depending upon the form of the disease. Treatment will generally continue for one year for tuberculoid leprosy and for two years for lepromatous leprosy. With treatment, less than 0.1 percent of people will fail to be cured of leprosy.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD