COTRIMOXAZOLE Meaning and
Definition
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Cotrimoxazole is a fixed-dose combination antibiotic medication composed of two active ingredients: sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. It is commonly prescribed for the treatment of various bacterial infections, especially those caused by susceptible strains of bacteria. Cotrimoxazole works by inhibiting the growth and multiplication of bacteria, thereby helping the body's immune system to eradicate the infection.
Sulfamethoxazole belongs to the sulfonamide class of antibiotics, which act by blocking the synthesis of folic acid in bacteria. Folic acid is crucial for the production of essential components, such as nucleic acids and proteins, necessary for bacterial growth. Trimethoprim, on the other hand, is a dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor that blocks a specific enzyme, impairing bacterial folic acid synthesis. By combining these two drugs, cotrimoxazole exhibits a synergistic effect, resulting in increased efficacy against a wide range of bacteria.
Cotrimoxazole is commonly used to treat infections of the respiratory tract, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, and skin caused by susceptible bacteria. It is also effective in preventing and treating certain opportunistic infections in individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS. Additionally, cotrimoxazole can be used for the prophylaxis and treatment of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, a severe lung infection often seen in immunocompromised patients.
Despite its effectiveness, cotrimoxazole may cause various side effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances, skin reactions, and blood disorders. It is important to take this medication as prescribed and report any unusual symptoms to a healthcare professional.
Common Misspellings for COTRIMOXAZOLE
- xotrimoxazole
- votrimoxazole
- fotrimoxazole
- dotrimoxazole
- citrimoxazole
- cktrimoxazole
- cltrimoxazole
- cptrimoxazole
- c0trimoxazole
- c9trimoxazole
- corrimoxazole
- cofrimoxazole
- cogrimoxazole
- coyrimoxazole
- co6rimoxazole
- co5rimoxazole
- coteimoxazole
- cotdimoxazole
- cotfimoxazole
- cottimoxazole
Etymology of COTRIMOXAZOLE
The word "Cotrimoxazole" is a pharmaceutical term derived from the combination of two antibiotic drugs, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. The etymology of each component is as follows:
- Sulfamethoxazole: "Sulfa" is short for "sulfanilamide", which refers to a group of compounds belonging to the sulfonamide class of antibiotics. "Methoxazole" comes from the combination of "methoxy", referring to the methoxy functional group (-OCH3), and "azole", which is a suffix indicating a class of compounds with a five-membered ring containing one or more nitrogen atoms.
- Trimethoprim: "Tri" is derived from the Latin prefix for "three", indicating the presence of three methyl groups (-CH3) in the compound.
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