SULFADOXINE Meaning and
Definition
-
Sulfadoxine is an antibiotic medication that falls under the category of sulfonamide drugs. It is primarily used in the treatment and prevention of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous and deadly species of the malaria parasite. Sulfadoxine is often used in combination with another antimalarial medication called pyrimethamine to enhance its efficacy.
The mechanism of Sulfadoxine involves inhibiting the synthesis of folate in the malaria parasite, disrupting its DNA replication and overall growth. By preventing the parasite from obtaining essential nutrients, Sulfadoxine effectively inhibits its proliferation and helps to eliminate the infection.
Sulfadoxine is orally administered and is typically taken once or few times in combination with pyrimethamine. It is slowly eliminated from the body and has a long half-life, allowing for extended drug concentrations in the blood, which increases its effectiveness against the parasite.
Although Sulfadoxine is generally well-tolerated, it may cause certain side effects such as allergic reactions, skin rashes, nausea, and vomiting. It can also result in rare but serious adverse effects like liver damage and blood disorders, so close monitoring is necessary during treatment.
Due to its proven efficacy in treating malaria, Sulfadoxine is included in the World Health Organization's recommended list of essential medicines. However, its use is mainly restricted to regions with a high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and in cases of drug-resistant strains. Proper dosing and adherence to treatment regimens significantly contribute to the success of Sulfadoxine in combating malaria.
Common Misspellings for SULFADOXINE
- aulfadoxine
- zulfadoxine
- xulfadoxine
- dulfadoxine
- eulfadoxine
- wulfadoxine
- sylfadoxine
- shlfadoxine
- sjlfadoxine
- silfadoxine
- s8lfadoxine
- s7lfadoxine
- sukfadoxine
- supfadoxine
- suofadoxine
- suldadoxine
- sulcadoxine
- sulvadoxine
- sulgadoxine
- sultadoxine
Etymology of SULFADOXINE
The word "Sulfadoxine" is derived from two main components: "sulf-" and "-doxine".
1. "Sulf-" is derived from "sulfur", referring to an element on the periodic table known for its bright yellow color and its chemical properties. The term "sulf-" is commonly used as a prefix in chemistry to indicate the presence of a sulfur atom in a compound.
2. "-doxine" is derived from "pyrimethamine" or "pyrimethamine-like" compounds, which are a class of drugs. The "-doxine" part specifically refers to this class of compounds.
By combining these components, the term "Sulfadoxine" was created to describe a compound that contains both sulfur (sulf-) and pyrimethamine-like (-doxine) characteristics.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
