A 12-year-old child presents with 4 lesions of leprosy on back and four lesions on left arm. What should be the treatment of this child?
**Core Concept**
Leprosy, caused by *Mycobacterium leprae*, is a chronic bacterial infection affecting the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. The treatment of leprosy involves a combination of antibiotics to prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant strains and to prevent nerve damage.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a multidrug therapy (MDT) regimen for treating leprosy. The standard MDT regimen for paucibacillary leprosy (less than 5 skin lesions) consists of rifampicin 600 mg and clofazimine 300 mg once daily for 6 months. For multibacillary leprosy (more than 5 skin lesions), the regimen includes rifampicin 600 mg, clofazimine 300 mg, and dapsone 100 mg once daily for 12 months. In this case, the child has more than 5 skin lesions, so the MDT regimen for multibacillary leprosy is indicated.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because rifampicin alone is not sufficient to treat leprosy, as it can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because clofazimine alone is not sufficient to treat leprosy, as it has limited bactericidal activity.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because dapsone is part of the MDT regimen, but it should be used in combination with rifampicin and clofazimine.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
It is essential to note that leprosy can be prevented by administering the MDT regimen to close contacts of patients with leprosy. This is a high-yield fact for the exam, as it highlights the importance of contact tracing and prevention in the management of leprosy.
**Correct Answer:** C. Rifampicin 600 mg, clofazimine 300 mg, and dapsone 100 mg once daily for 12 months.