n.one of a family of medical
drugs containing
sulfur dioxide (a colorless, nonflammable
gas that is used for such
purposes as disinfecting,
manufacturing chemicals, preserving
fruits and vegetables, and making
drugs).
Knowledge of the benefits of
drugs containing
sulfur dioxide (known as
sulfa drugs) dates back to the early 1900s. It was not until the 1930s, however, that the medical possibilities of such
drugs were studied sufficiently to permit their
broad application in medicine. As one of the earliest
sulfa drugs to be put into
general use, sulfathiazole proved powerful in retarding the growth of certain
bacteria and was administered for such infections as venereal disease. It could be injected as a
solution, taken by mouth, or applied locally as a powder or ointment. Sulfathiazole however was largely replaced by other
drugs considered to be more effective and which had less side effects.
a
sulfa drug which is from a family of
drugs containing
sulfur dioxide generally powerful in
checking the growth of certain
bacteria. Sulfathiazole was earlier used in treating gonorrhea and
pneumonia.