Dapsone – Leprosy treatment
Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is one of the oldest diseases known to humankind. It is mentioned in ancient writings starting from XV-Х century BC (Indian Veda, the Laws of Manu, ancient Chinese medical treatises, the Old Testament). Since leprosy at that time was thought to be an incurable disease, it was depicted in most terrible and shocking way. That is why all people tried to stay away from lepers by any means. Fortunately, now leprosy is well treated due to Dapsone medication. According to World Health Organization there were12-14 million leprostatic patients in early eighties. Further on, due to successful treatment , it was decided to cross off the register patients who received adequate treatment with Dapsone (the duration of the treatment course is 6-24 months depending on the type of the disease.). Presently there are 0,8 million people who need proper treatment against this disease registered officially. At the same time in nineties the number of leprostatic patients was 500-600 thousands registered yearly, for the last year this figure has grown up to 800 thousands patients a year.