scabicide
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A substance, specifically a pharmaceutical drug or chemical agent, used to kill the mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) that cause the skin infestation known as scabies.
Usage
A scabicide is a topical or oral medication prescribed to treat scabies by eradicating the parasitic mites and their eggs. It is a specific type of parasiticide.
Examples
- The doctor prescribed a scabicide lotion to be applied from the neck down.
- Permethrin cream is a common and effective scabicide.
- Treatment failure can occur if the scabicide is not applied correctly to all areas of the skin.
Advanced Usage
- The term is used in medical, pharmacological, and public health contexts when discussing treatment protocols for parasitic skin diseases.
- Scabicidal (adjective): Describing the killing action against scabies mites. (e.g., "The lotion has strong scabicidal properties.")
Variants and Related Words
- Scabicidal (adj.): Having the quality of killing scabies mites.
- Acaricide (n.): A broader term for a substance that kills mites and ticks, which includes scabicides.
- Pediculicide (n.): A drug that kills lice, often discussed alongside scabicides as treatments for ectoparasites.
Synonyms
- Antiscabietic agent
- Miticide (specifically for )
Notes
- A scabicide is distinct from treatments that only soothe the itching (anti-pruritics) or treat secondary bacterial infections; its primary function is acaricidal.
- Proper application and, sometimes, repeat treatment are crucial for a scabicide to be effective, as the mites burrow under the skin.
Noun
- a drug that destroys the itch mite that causes scabies