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Sulfanilamide
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<p>Sulfanilamide (also spelled sulphanilamide) is a <a href="/facts/Sulfonamide_(medicine)/4vXtwwwm">sulfonamide</a> <a href="/facts/Antibacterial/sF1kIfxg">antibacterial</a> drug. Chemically, it is an <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a> consisting of an <a href="/facts/Aniline/eFXck1Rj">aniline</a> <a href="/facts/Derivatized/LC8f4qmT">derivatized</a> with a <a href="/facts/Sulfonamide_(chemistry)/h1sVXW41">sulfonamide</a> group. Powdered sulfanilamide was used by the <a href="/facts/Allies_(World_War_II)/YzCdtjDY">Allies</a> in <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a> to reduce infection rates and contributed to a dramatic reduction in mortality rates compared to previous wars. Sulfanilamide is rarely if ever used <a href="/facts/Systemic_drug/yxye1dtm">systemically</a> due to <a href="/facts/Toxicity/qa96rs60">toxicity</a> and because more effective sulfonamides are available for this purpose. Modern <a href="/facts/Antibiotics/sF1kIfxg">antibiotics</a> have supplanted sulfanilamide on the battlefield; however, sulfanilamide remains in use today in the form of <a href="/facts/Topical_medication/alFfLndS">topical</a> preparations, primarily for treatment of <a href="/facts/Vaginal_yeast_infection/vcrTlo0C">vaginal yeast infections</a> such as <a href="/facts/Vaginitis/qT1fdwM7">vulvovaginitis</a> caused by <i><a href="/facts/Candida_albicans/7o27aEFS">Candida albicans</a></i>. </p><p>The term "sulfanilamides" is also sometimes used to describe a family of molecules containing these <a href="/facts/Functional_group/GXkSPsjM">functional groups</a>. Examples include: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Furosemide/tq9Lx0u4">Furosemide</a>, a <a href="/facts/Loop_diuretic/eEgJ4qpf">loop diuretic</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sulfadiazine/PlU6PBEP">Sulfadiazine</a>, an <a href="/facts/Antibiotic/sF1kIfxg">antibiotic</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sulfamethoxazole/UkU1fdcP">Sulfamethoxazole</a>, an <a href="/facts/Antibiotic/sF1kIfxg">antibiotic</a></li></ul>