Evaluation of Adverse Drug Reaction Profile of Drugs Prescribed for the Treatment of Leprosy

The research aims to evaluate the side effects of medications prescribed for the treatment of Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, a chronic bacterial infectious disease affecting the skin, nerves, and respiratory tract, primarily caused by Mycobacterium Leprae or Mycobacterium Lepromatosis. Leprosy remains a public health concern, despite being declared ‘eliminated’ in India (2005), the country still accounts for over half of the world’s new leprosy cases, with the highest prevalence in Chhattisgarh. 

The introduction of multidrug therapy (MDT) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981 has been effective in reducing the prevalence of leprosy, but the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with the treatment remain a significant issue. These reactions can range from mild to severe and may lead patients either to stop or alter their treatment without consulting healthcare providers, potentially hindering disease management and contributing to drug resistance.

The study focuses on assessing the prevalence, causality, severity, and preventability of adverse drug reactions linked to leprosy medications and evaluates medication adherence to multidrug therapy among leprosy patients, as nonadherence can result in treatment failure and contribute to the further transmission of the disease.

The methodology involves a cross-sectional study design with a minimum sample size of 35 leprosy patients, employing enumerative sampling techniques, conducted over a year at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur, focusing on patients availing the dermatology outpatient and inpatient services.

The study aims to improve leprosy treatment by providing insights into optimizing medication protocols and enhancing patient adherence, thereby contributing to global leprosy elimination efforts.