According to the WHO multidrug therapy regimen for paucibacillary leprosy, the correct combination and duration are:

• A Rifampicin daily plus clofazimine monthly for 6 months
• B Rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone daily for 12 months
• C Dapsone monotherapy for 5 years
• D Rifampicin monthly supervised plus dapsone daily for 6 months ✓

Explanation

The WHO paucibacillary regimen is monthly supervised rifampicin 600 mg with self-administered daily dapsone 100 mg for 6 months, followed by observation. Multibacillary disease adds clofazimine and extends therapy to 12 months. Dapsone monotherapy is obsolete because it selected resistant strains rapidly. Indian national programme practice follows the same WHO schedules, with fixed-duration release from treatment rather than smear negativity as the endpoint.

Reference: IAL Textbook of Leprosy, 2nd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.