01230nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653001600065653002900081653001200110653001100122653001200133653001300145653000900158100001500167700001500182245005800197300001100255490000700266520070100273022001400974       1978                            d  c1978 Apr10aAdult10aBCG Vaccine10aClinical Trials as Topic10aDapsone10aHumans10aleprosy10aPlacebos10aRisk1 aFilice G A1 aFraser D W00aManagement of household contacts of leprosy patients.  a538-420 v883 a<p>We describe an approach to the management of household contacts of leprosy patients and the rationale on which it is based. Initially, all household contacts should be interviewed and examined for symptoms and signs consistent with leprosy and appropriate diagnostic measures taken. Contacts of untreated lepromatous and dimorphous (borderline) leprosy patients are at relatively high risk of disease and should be examined annually for at least 5 years. Dapsone prophylaxis has been shown to prevent secondary cases in contacts up to 25 years old and should be used in these and possibly in older persons. Insufficient data exist to support a recommendation for the use of BCG at present.</p>  a0003-4819