Incidence of neuritis among paucibacillary leprosy patients during treatment and surveillance.

A cohort study was done on 180 patients receiving the standard WHO PB-MDT regimen at the TLM Hospital in Kolkata, during MDT and 2 years of surveillance to determine the incidence of neuritis. Neuritis occurred in only 2 out of the 180 patients, confirming that the current WHO treatment for PB-MDT is attendant with minimal risk of neuritis. No risk factors were found, except pregnancy in a female patient. While addition of clofazimine in the new U-MDT under trial might take care of the occasional neuritis, further clinical research might be useful to identify sub-groups of PB patients at risk of neuritis.