01385nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653001100080653001100091653002300102653001200125653000900137653001600146653001700162653000900179653001600188100001400204700001500218245005900233300001000292490000700302050003200309520074000341022001401081       1983                            d  c1983 Oct10aAdolescent10aAdult10aFemale10aHumans10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aNasal Mucosa10aNose10aRespiration1 aPadma M N1 aBhatia V N00a"Nose-blow" smears in multibacillary leprosy patients.  a640-70 v55  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>332 nose-blow specimens have been examined from 73 untreated multibacillary patients of leprosy before and periodically after they were put on a maximal, minimal or an intermediate multi-drug regimen. 80% of these specimens were found to be positive for acid fast bacilli initially. Bacillary positivity rate was more in samples containing pus or blood. Bacilli were seen in LL, LI as well as BL patients. Nearly half of the cases became negative for AFB in their nose-blow specimens within 3 months of initiation of treatment whereas none of these patients has become negative in skin smears. However, a few cases have continued to discharge bacilli in their nasal secretions even after 12 months of multi-drug regimen therapy.</p>  a0024-1024