It also has a role in the treatment of chronic bronchitis, traveler's diarrhea, shigella, and in both the treatment and prevention of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
Most bacteria must manufacture their own supply of folic acid or folate. Animals (and some bacteria) depend on outside sources of folic acid, getting what they need from what they eat. Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole are both compounds that block the internal production of folic acid. Thus these compounds are relatively safe for humans, yet lethal to many bacteria.
The sulfamethoxazole component of Septra is a sulfa (or sulfur containing) drug. It causes fewer side effects than the other sulfa drugs, but its side effects should be respected.
The most common significant adverse effects are allergic skin reactions. Most of these are mild, but occasionally they are quite severe. Septra should be discontinued at the first sign of a skin rash.
Excess sun exposure should be avoided by anyone taking Septra.
Sulfa drugs may precipitate in the urine, producing crystals that can cause bleeding, urinary obstruction, or kidney damage. This is best prevented by using the most soluble of the more than 150 different sulfa drugs (such as the sulfamethoxazole in Septra) and by drinking lots of fluids while on the medication.
Allergic kidney damage can also occur, underscoring the need to stop taking Septra at the first signs of an allergic skin rash. When Septra is used on an ongoing basis, occasional blood and urine testing (a urinalysis, CBC, BUN, and creatinine) can detect early signs of problems.
Septra should not be used in children with folate deficiency.
Septra interacts with Dilantin, with methotrexate, and with anticoagulant medications; it should be used cautiously if these other drugs are being taken.
My great nephew had a brain tumor. Now, they've found a tumor in his sister's leg behind her knee. They are having their water tested. They also live in a very old house, should they be concerned with old materials used to build their house way back then? Do you think there's a possibility that it could be environmentally related? We are in south Louisiana close to the Mississippi river and close to numerous chemical plants.
What a tough time for the family!
Most tumors in kids come from a combination of genetic susceptibility and some kind of environmental insult. Not all susceptible kids get cancer, and not all kids exposed to toxins get cancer. However those kids who have both, often do. The list of possible environmental toxins is long. The chemical plants are one possibility. If there is an environmental medicine doctor in the area, a consultation might prove a very wise idea. Most cities now have good doctors in the field. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine, for example, has information on finding a doctor with experience in environmental medicine at www.aaemonline.org.
In an effort to identify plants that can filter air in sealed environments, NASA spent 2 years testing common plants to determine the best natural filters. Check out the top ten list to find plants that perform the best in removing formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide, three common yet toxic contaminants that we regularly find indoors.
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