A 35-year-old man from a leprosy-endemic area presents with a single hypopigmented macule with loss of sensation and a single thickened nerve. Slit-skin smear is negative. The WHO classification for treatment purposes is:
- A Paucibacillary — 6 months MB-MDT
- B Multibacillary — 12 months MB-MDT
- C Indeterminate leprosy — single-dose ROM therapy
- D Paucibacillary — 6 months PB-MDT (rifampicin + dapsone) ✓
Explanation
WHO classifies leprosy for treatment as paucibacillary (PB: 1-5 patches) or multibacillary (MB: >5 patches). This patient has a single macule = PB. PB-MDT consists of rifampicin 600 mg once monthly (supervised) and dapsone 100 mg daily for 6 months. Single-dose ROM (rifampicin + ofloxacin + minocycline) is specifically for single-lesion PB leprosy without nerve thickening. This patient has a thickened nerve (nerve involvement), so full 6-month PB-MDT is appropriate, not single-dose ROM. MB-MDT (rifampicin + dapsone + clofazimine) for 12 months is for MB disease (>5 lesions or SSS positive).
Reference: Neena Khanna Illustrated Synopsis of Dermatology & STD, 6th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.