01542nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653003100055653001100086653002500097653002500122653000900147653001300156100001800169700001200187700001600199700001800215700001200233700001400245245005400259300000900313490000700322520093300329022001401262       1989                            d  c1989 Jun10aAdministration, Intranasal10aHumans10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aMycobacterium leprae10aNose10aRifampin1 aPrabhakar M C1 aRao A V1 aKrishna D R1 aRamanakar T V1 aRao P G1 aReddy K N00aNew approach to curb the transmission of leprosy.  a6-130 v143 a<p>The effect of local treatment of nose of lepromatous type of patients with different formulations of rifampicin nasal drops/sprays was investigated in a large number of patients. The preparations were either sprayed or instilled into the nostrils after flushing the nostrils with normal saline at 37 degrees C. It was observed that 10 mg/ml of rifampicin was effective in reducing the BI and MI to zero in nose in seven days in majority of the patients. No untoward effect was seen in any of the patients. It is suggested that nasal sprays/drops may be able to prevent the transmission of hanseniasis, as nose is recognised to be an important portal of exit of M. leprae. Further when rifampicin drops/sprays are used as soon as the diagnosis is made, the nasal deformity may be prevented. It is believed that local treatment along with systemic therapy would go a long way in controlling the transmission of hanseniasis.</p>  a0100-3283