Final answer:
Hansen's disease, or leprosy, is treated using WHO's recommended multidrug therapy regimen, which has been instrumental in significantly reducing the global prevalence of the disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Leprosy Treatment and WHO Regimen for Multibacillary Leprosy
Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
The treatment for leprosy, especially multibacillary leprosy, involves the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended multidrug therapy.
Since 1995, WHO has provided this treatment free of charge globally. Multidrug therapy includes three drugs: dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine.
The latter is specifically for multibacillary leprosy cases. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in preventing disabilities associated with the disease, which primarily affects the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Diagnosis of Hansen's disease is based on clinical signs and confirmed via skin smears or skin biopsy showing the presence of acid-fast bacilli.
There is currently no universal vaccine for leprosy, but some countries use tuberculosis vaccines due to a similar etiological agent.
Treatment success has led to a substantial decline in global prevalence from 5.2 million cases in 1985 to about 176,000 in 2014. This multidrug approach has proven effective in controlling the disease and minimizing transmission.