|
|
BOOK REVIEW |
|
|
|
| Year : 1996 | Volume
: 50
| Issue : 1 | Page : 20 |
| |
Book review
TK Mehta
,
Correspondence Address:
T K Mehta
,
How to cite this article:
Mehta T K. Book review. Indian J Med Sci 1996;50:20 |
CHEMOTHERAPY OF LEPROSY - Report of a WHO Study Group Technical Report Series, No. 847, 1994, v + 24 pages, ISBN 92 4 1208473, Sw.fr.6.-.
This is a very handy practical booklet on the subject. All the more interesting because the international study group includes notable Indians working in the field, viz. Dr. S. K. Noordeen, Chief Medical Officer, Leprosy Control, Division of Control of Tropical Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland and Dr. R. Ganpati, Director, Bombay Leprosy Project, Bombay, India. Thus the report gets added authencity to the text on the subject.
This booklet attempts to throw further light in the practical feasibility of Multi Drug Therapy of Leprosy as a control measure. Since its introduction in 1981, some 4 - 3 million patients have been cured. This has brought down prevalence of leprosy cases in the world by two thirds.
The following objectives were kept in mind by the study group (1) To review the information on multi drug therapy since 1981 (MDT), (2) To make recommendations on new drugs, (3) To recommend changes in operational aspects of control so that leprosy may be eliminated from the human race, (4) To consider further research needs. The main utility of the booklet lies in its guidance for treatment of reactions in leprosy, very difficult complication to treat, which often interferes with case holding and as a result affects control efficiency. !t is an useful ready reference for practising specialists, general doctors and a practical guide for field workers.
|
