Antiprotozoals
Antiprotozoals
Antiprotozoals (pronunciation: an-ti-pro-to-zo-als) are a class of medications that are primarily used to treat or prevent infections caused by protozoa.
Etymology
The term "antiprotozoal" is derived from the Greek words "anti" meaning against, "proto" meaning first, and "zoon" meaning animal. This refers to the fact that protozoa are single-celled organisms that were among the first forms of life.
Types of Antiprotozoals
There are several types of antiprotozoal drugs, including:
- Quinolines: This group includes drugs like chloroquine and quinine, which are used to treat malaria.
- Nitroimidazoles: This group includes drugs like metronidazole and tinidazole, which are used to treat various protozoal infections.
- Sulfonamides and diaminopyrimidines: These are used in combination to treat toxoplasmosis.
- Echinocandins: These are used to treat Pneumocystis pneumonia.
Mechanism of Action
Antiprotozoal drugs work by inhibiting the growth and reproduction of protozoa. They do this by interfering with the protozoa's ability to synthesize proteins, replicate DNA, or metabolize nutrients.
Side Effects
Like all medications, antiprotozoal drugs can have side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. In rare cases, they can cause more serious side effects like neuropathy or hepatotoxicity.
Related Terms
- Protozoa: Single-celled organisms that can cause disease in humans.
- Parasite: An organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host.
- Infection: The invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antiprotozoals
- Wikipedia's article - Antiprotozoals
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