Title: Difference Between Sulfa and Sulfur | Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms
Headings: Difference Between Sulfa and Sulfur
Difference Between Sulfa and Sulfur
CONTENTS
What is Sulfa?
Figure 01: Structure of a Sulfonamide
What is Sulfur?
What is the Difference Between Sulfa and Sulfur?
Summary – Sulfa vs Sulfur
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Content: Summary
What is Sulfa? Sulfa is a name of a group of antibiotic drugs that has the sulfonamide functional group in their structure. These are synthetic drugs. These were the first drugs people used to treat bacterial infections in humans. However, the use of these drugs has diminished since there are other antibiotics which are more safe and effective. Furthermore, they are still in use (for urinary tract infections), but it is prescribed carefully because allergies caused by sulfa drugs is very common. Figure 01: Structure of a Sulfonamide
Sulfa drugs are distinctive from other sulfur-containing drugs and food additives, i.e. sulfates and sulfites. These are chemically unrelated to the sulfonamide functional group. Moreover, they do not show allergy reactions shown by sulfonamide.