UNAIR NEWS At the moment, Indonesia is the third country with the most patients with leprosy after India and Brazil. Since the initiation of Multi Drug Treatment of Leprosy(MDTL) by WHO in 1980, the number of patients with leprosy has reduced significantly. However, the new case detection rate in endemic areas is relatively stable.
Based on research on leprosy conducted by Dr. Cita Rosita Sigit Prakoeswa, dr., SpKK(K) and team, one of the reasons of the stable new case detection rate was the leprosy transmission chain. Subclinical stadium leprosy (KSS) management has not been implemented yet.
In February 2017, Cita and her team were trusted by The Netherland Leprosy Reliefto conduct multi center research collaboration with India and Brazil. The workshop funded by The Netherland Leprosy Reliefto prepare the research was done last March. Furthermore, Cita and her team were also supported by Infectious Disease Research Center,Seattle, USA.
This research is also supported by Indonesian Ministry of Health and Health Agency of East Java. The pilot study will be started in the end of April 2017 in Pasuruan, a hyperendemic area in East Java.
淟eprosy is still a problem in Indonesia, even it is rarely life-threatening like the other serious infection. But this infection can lower the quality of life as it can cause disability or when it infects chiddren, said Cita in her office in Research and Development Division RSUD Dr Soetomo, Surabaya, Thursday, April 6.
Cita said that it is difficult to eradicate leprosy entirely. Leprosy management program implemented can be deemed to work well as the number of cases is decreasing. However there is still a problem to reduce the NCDR.
From the researches conducted by FK 51动漫 RSUD Dr. Soetomo Leprosy research team, whose members are Prof. Dr. Indropo Agusni, dr, SpKK(K); Dr. M Y Listiawan, dr, SpKK(K); Linda Astari, dr, SpKK; Irmadita, dr, SpKK; Medhi D Alinda, dr, SpKK; Bagus H Kusuma, dr, SpKK and Leprosy Study Group- Institute of Tropical Disease team, 51动漫 membered by Dinar Adriaty, SSi, M Kes; Iswahyudi, SKM, M Kes; Ratna Wahyuni, SSi, M Kes were supported as well by Indonesian Ministry of Health through Health Agency of East Java and researches supported by WHO, Japan and Holland, a study on potential subclinical leprosy from patient contacts related to the NCDR stability.
The research result showed matched result of KSS prediction which become leprosy in the endemic area with the NCDR reported every year. Therefore, the assumption of KSS significance to cut off the leprosy transmission chain is even stronger.
The research has involved 200 leprosy patients with 100 patient contacts in leprosy hyperendemic area. The patient contacts will undergo clinical and laboratory test before they are given prophylaxis drugs. Constant observation will be conducted for 5 years. This research is expected to lower the NCDR.
淭his is our first research in a great scale of samples, about 20 throusand people. If it runs well and subclinical leprosy is proven to have significant role in reducing NCDR through cutting of the transmission chain, we will make a new history in leprosy management which is as old as the human civilization, said Cita. (*)
Author : Binti Q. Masruroh
