Incubation time of relapses after treatment of paucibacillary leprosy

Abstract

Data are presented on the incubation time of 21 relapses after stopping monotherapy in paucibacillary leprosy in Central Africa. The results are comparable with those of other studies: 50% of relapses occur during the first 2-3 years. This figure is most important to analyse the results of drug trials in paucibacillary leprosy. This figure should also be relevant for regiments including more bactericidal drugs than dapsone, since the kind of antibacterial treatment should influence the minimal necessary duration of treatment but not the incubation time of relapses. The same mechanisms prevailing in relapses of multibacillary leprosy, their incubation periods should be identical.