Can the taking of dapsone be used as a diagnostic tool?
Dapsone is an old antibiotic that, when taken for a few days, suppresses the DH rash. It needs to be taken with caution as it can lead to some nasty side effects (see DH drugs FAQ). Regular blood tests should be obtained whilst taking this drug. Diagnosis is usually made with several factors taken into consideration, not just dapsone and primary spot symptoms. Blood tests, skin and intestinal biopsies, prior medical history, all build up a picture for narrowing down the statistical possibilities of misdiagnosis. Also the test does not rule out a bacterial infection if the spots improve, but it is a very useful indicator.
