Dapsone-resistant leprosy in Burundi

Abstract

Between 1978 and 1981 a dapsone-resistance survey was performed in 4 out of 5 regions of Burundi. Among 1791 leprosy patients, 925 were multibacillary (51%) and prevalence of dapsone resistance is 3.7%, with variations in regions between 1.2 and 6.1%. Since the selection of patients was on a clinical rather than a bacteriologic basis, this should be a minimum figure. Incubation time of dapsone resistance was from 8 to more than 20 years of monotherapy. Two cases of primary dapsone resistance were also diagnosed.