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CLOFAZIMIN IN SHORT SUPPLY

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS | CLOFAZIMIN IN SHORT SUPPLY | 01ST JULY | THE HINDU

/ July, 2022, UPSC Daily Current Affairs

SYLLABUS SECTION: GS II (HEALTH ISSUES)

WHY IN THE NEWS?

Clofazimin a key drug for treatment of leprosy, which had been in short supply in the Indian market for several months, is now not available, with the situation turning into a crisis over the past three months.

MORE DETAILS:

  • Clofazimine is one of the three essential drugs in the Multi Drug Treatment of Multibacillary Leprosy (MB-MDT) cases, along with Rifampicin and Dapsone.
  • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), leprosy is endemic in several States and Union Territories of India, with the annual case detection rate of 4.56 per 10,000 population.
  • The prevalence rate of leprosy is 0.4 per 10,000 population in the country.
  • Of the new cases detected during 2020-21, 58.1% were multibacillary, 39% were women, 5.8% were children less than 14 years of age, and 2.41% had visible deformities. The rate of visible deformities was 1.1 per million population.

LEPROSY:

  • Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s Disease.
  • It is cause by slow-growing bacteria calls Mycobacterium leprae.
  • Leprosy is a chronic, progressive bacterial infection cause by a bacterium call Mycobacterium Leprae, which is an acid-fast rod-shape bacillus.
  • Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases in recorded history, afflicting humanity since time immemorial. A written account of Leprosy dates as far back as 600 B.C.
  • Symptoms: Red patches on the skin, skin lesions, numbness in arms, hands, and legs, ulcers on the soles of feet, muscle Weakness and excessive weight loss.
  • If left untreated, the nerve damage can result in paralysis of hands and feet.
  • It usually takes about 3-5 years for symptoms to appear after coming into contact with Leprosy-causing bacteria.
  • The long incubation period makes it difficult for doctors to determine when and where the person got infective.
  • It is endemic in several States and Union Territories of India, with an annual case detection rate of 4.56 per 10,000 population.
  • Mode of Transmission: Mainly by breathing airborne droplets from the affective individuals. It can be contact at any age.
  • Leprosy is curable with the combination of drugs known as Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT).

SOURCE: THE HINDU