Leprosy tertiary prevention: Difference between revisions
Joao Silva (talk | contribs) |
Joao Silva (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
Once an individual is [[infected]] with leprosy and [[symptoms]] start to develop, the longer the period taken to establish a correct [[diagnosis]] and until [[Therapy|treatment]] is started, greater the chance of developing lifelong damage. It is important to emphasize this time frame because, even after the [[diagnosis]] has been reached and adequate [[therapy]] has been started, significant [[nerve damage]] will continue to develop, particularly in ''multibacillary cases''. This damage will then decline throughout the following 3 years. Education of the population to prevent further damage, monitor and provide basic [[Therapy|treatment]] should be emphasized. | Once an individual is [[infected]] with leprosy and [[symptoms]] start to develop, the longer the period taken to establish a correct [[diagnosis]] and until [[Therapy|treatment]] is started, greater the chance of developing lifelong damage. It is important to emphasize this time frame because, even after the [[diagnosis]] has been reached and adequate [[therapy]] has been started, significant [[nerve damage]] will continue to develop, particularly in ''multibacillary cases''. This damage will then decline throughout the following 3 years. Education of the population to prevent further damage, monitor and provide basic [[Therapy|treatment]] should be emphasized. | ||
Once the damage has been established, it is important to minimize its impact on the lives of the populations. For this, important measures may be applied, including:<ref name=WHO>{{cite web | title = Enhanced global strategy for further reducing the disease burden due to leprosy (2011-2015) | url = http://www.searo.who.int/entity/global_leprosy_programme/documents/enhanced_global_strategy_2011_2015_operational_guidelines.pdf }}</ref> | Once the damage has been established, it is important to minimize its impact on the lives of the populations. For this, important measures may be applied, including:<ref name=WHO>{{cite web | title = Enhanced global strategy for further reducing the disease burden due to leprosy (2011-2015) | url = http://www.searo.who.int/entity/global_leprosy_programme/documents/enhanced_global_strategy_2011_2015_operational_guidelines.pdf }}</ref> | ||
* Home self-care | * Home self-care: | ||
:* Activities that individuals may perform at their homes, individually or with assistance of family members, such as [[wound]] dressing of the [[hands]] or [[feet]], thereby minimizing further damage. | |||
:* Performing self-examination to detect unknown areas of lesion. | |||
* Interventions and education at the local clinic. | * Interventions and education at the local clinic. | ||
:* Direct education of patients to treat their [[lesions]], prevent further damages and identify early [[symptoms]], that should direct them to seek medical attention. | :* Direct education of patients to treat their [[lesions]], prevent further damages and identify early [[symptoms]], that should direct them to seek medical attention. | ||
Revision as of 18:56, 6 July 2014
|
Leprosy Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Leprosy tertiary prevention On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Leprosy tertiary prevention |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Leprosy tertiary prevention |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]
Overview
After leprosy has been diagnosed and treatment has been initiated, other measures may be taken, in order to minimize further damage to the patient. These include: education of the patient and family members to monitor and treat skin ulcers and other lesions, primary care facilities to provide help to the populations and to direct patients to a specialist, whenever needed.[1]
Tertiary Prevention
Once an individual is infected with leprosy and symptoms start to develop, the longer the period taken to establish a correct diagnosis and until treatment is started, greater the chance of developing lifelong damage. It is important to emphasize this time frame because, even after the diagnosis has been reached and adequate therapy has been started, significant nerve damage will continue to develop, particularly in multibacillary cases. This damage will then decline throughout the following 3 years. Education of the population to prevent further damage, monitor and provide basic treatment should be emphasized. Once the damage has been established, it is important to minimize its impact on the lives of the populations. For this, important measures may be applied, including:[1]
- Home self-care:
- Interventions and education at the local clinic.
- Direct education of patients to treat their lesions, prevent further damages and identify early symptoms, that should direct them to seek medical attention.
- Educate about protective footwear and orthotics.
- Identify problems that may need specialist intervention.
- Provide basic care and monitoring of skin ulcers and sequelae of the disease.
- Specialist intervention, such as:
- Assist patients with acute eye problems.
- Debridement of infected areas.
- Surgery in required cases.