Question
Lepra reaction
Q5 3 marks Short Notes ★ ✓
Answer
Lepra reactions are immunologically mediated acute inflammatory episodes occurring during the course of leprosy, either spontaneously or during/after treatment.
Type 1 (Reversal) reaction
Cell-mediated (delayed-type) hypersensitivity reaction
Presents with acute inflammation of existing skin lesions and nerves (neuritis, risk of permanent nerve damage)
Treatment: Corticosteroids (Prednisolone)
Type 2 reaction (Erythema Nodosum Leprosum, ENL)
Immune complex-mediated (Type III hypersensitivity) reaction, occurs mainly in lepromatous/borderline lepromatous leprosy
Presents with tender erythematous nodules, fever, malaise, neuritis, iritis
Treatment: Thalidomide (drug of choice, contraindicated in women of childbearing age due to teratogenicity), Corticosteroids
Anti-leprosy multidrug therapy is usually continued during treatment of the reaction.
1 Antileprotic Drugs
Other Years Asked
1 ( 2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 8 marks 2 Thalidomide 2018 February (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 3 marks 3 Multi bacillary leprosy. 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 4 Clofazimine 2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 5 Lepra reactions 2013 April (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 6 Pharmacological basis for the use of thalidomide in lepra reaction 2017 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 7 Uses of clofazimine 2016 February (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 1 mark 8 Drugs useful in Lepra reaction. 2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 9 Drugs used for Lepra reaction 2023 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.3 marks 10 Drugs for treating Lepra reaction 2024 March (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.2 marks 11 Antileprotic drugs. 2023 January (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 0.2 marks 
