Antifungal medication
Antifungal medication
Antifungal medication (pronunciation: /ˌæntiːˈfʌŋɡəl ˌmɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/) is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, and others.
Etymology
The term "antifungal" is derived from the Latin words "anti" meaning against, and "fungus" meaning mushroom. The term "medication" comes from the Latin "medicatio" meaning healing or curing.
Types of Antifungal Medications
There are several types of antifungal medications, including:
- Polyenes: This group includes Amphotericin B, nystatin, and natamycin. They bind to ergosterol, a component of the fungal cell membrane, and create pores, leading to cell death.
- Azoles: This group includes fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole. They inhibit the synthesis of ergosterol, disrupting the fungal cell membrane.
- Echinocandins: This group includes caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin. They inhibit the synthesis of glucan in the fungal cell wall.
- Allylamines: This group includes terbinafine. They inhibit the enzyme squalene epoxidase, disrupting the synthesis of ergosterol.
Related Terms
- Mycosis: A disease caused by infection with fungi, such as ringworm or thrush.
- Fungicide: A chemical compound or biological organism used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores.
- Fungistatic: An agent that inhibits the growth of fungi without destroying them.
- Ergosterol: A sterol found in cell membranes of fungi and protozoa, serving many of the same functions that cholesterol serves in animal cells.
- Cryptococcal meningitis: A fungal infection of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord, caused by the fungus Cryptococcus.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Antifungal medication
- Wikipedia's article - Antifungal medication
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