4-Aminosalicylic acid
4-Aminosalicylic acid
4-Aminosalicylic acid (pronunciation: 4-uh-mee-noh-suh-lis-uh-lik as-id), also known as Para-aminosalicylic acid or PAS, is an antibiotic primarily used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Etymology
The term "4-Aminosalicylic acid" is derived from its chemical structure. The "4-Amino" part refers to the presence of an amino group at the fourth position of the benzene ring, and "salicylic acid" refers to the salicylic acid structure that forms the backbone of the molecule.
Usage
4-Aminosalicylic acid is used in combination with other antitubercular drugs to treat tuberculosis. It is particularly effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.
Mechanism of Action
4-Aminosalicylic acid works by inhibiting the synthesis of folic acid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is essential for the bacterium's growth and reproduction.
Side Effects
Common side effects of 4-Aminosalicylic acid include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In rare cases, it can cause serious side effects like hepatotoxicity and hypersensitivity reactions.
Related Terms
- Antibiotic
- Tuberculosis
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Folic acid
- Hepatotoxicity
- Hypersensitivity reactions
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on 4-Aminosalicylic acid
- Wikipedia's article - 4-Aminosalicylic acid
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski