What would be the meaning of the downgrading type 1 reaction in terms of the management of the patient?

Leprosy Mailing List – May 1^st, 2012

Ref.:   What would be the meaning of the downgrading type 1 reaction in terms of the management of the patient?
From: H K Kar, New Delhi, India

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Dear Dr C Shumin,

Thanks for your message [LML April 23rd, 2012].  The term downgrading type 1 reaction is basically downgrading of the spectrum of the disease with some amount of inflammation over some of the lesions.  In those cases simply multi-drug therapy (MDT) has to be started immediately.  These patients need close watch, since they are likely to develop upgrading type 1 reaction.

Regards

Dr (Prof.) H K Kar
Dean, PGIMER, Dr R M L Hospital
Consultant & HOD
Department of Dermatology, STD & Leprosy
P.G.I.M.E.R. and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
Baba Kharag Singh Marg
New Delhi-110001