Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Therapeutic Efficacy of Dapsone in the Commonly Existing Sub-types

In India, contaneous leishmaniasis is confined to the western Thar desert. Epidemiologically, two different forms are seen, viz the rural and the urban forms. The vectors responsible for the transmission in this region are the Phlebotomus papatasi and the Sergentomyia clydei. The efficacy of oral dapsone was evaluated in the commonly existing sub-types of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Ten patients each of the nodular and ulcerative forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis were selected by strict 'clinical and pathological criteria and treated with oral dapsone in a dose of 2 mg per kg body weight daily, for 6 weeks. Seven patients of the nodular variety and all the ten patients in the ulcerative sub-group were cured. No major adverse effects were noted. Review after 6 months revealed no recurrence. in another ten patients taken as controls and not receiving the drug, the lesions showed no significant change.