Category: S

  • Sulfonamide

    Derivative of sulfanilic acid. A bacteriostatic drug, e.g. trimethoprim, used to treat bacterial infection, especially in the intestine and urinary system, but now less important due to increasing bacterial resistance. Any of a large group of antibacterial drugs that act by halting the growth and reproduction of bacteria but do not kill the bacteria. Sulfonamides…

  • Sulfa drugs

    Drugs that contain the crystalline compound, sulfanilamide. A synthetic drug that inhibits or prevents the production of intestinal bacteria. Antibiotics used to treat bacterial and some fungal infections. Sulfa drugs are medically known as sulfonamides. Sulfa drugs work by interfering with the metabolism of bacteria and fungi, thereby killing them. Sulfa drugs were considered “wonder…

  • Suicide observation

    Suicide watch.  

  • Suicide clusters

    Communities in which suicide rates are significantly higher than the national average. An epidemic of suicides, within either a defined location or a brief period of time.  

  • Suicidal intent scale

    A technique used to assess the seriousness of suicide intent. The scale attempts to objectively assess the circumstances related to the attempt.  

  • Sugar-free or sugarless (on food labels)

    Said foods cannot contain sucrose, but may have such sweeteners as honey, corn syrup, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol.  

  • Sugar addiction

    A misnomer since there is no evidence that sugar intake results in addictive physiological changes in the body. The term is usually applied to persons who consume large quantities of refined sugar products beyond the amount needed by the body as a ready source of energy.  

  • Suffocation

    A lack of oxygen getting into the lungs. May be caused by a  blockage of the windpipe, pressure on the chest, or insufficient supply of oxygen in the air being breathed asphyxiation. The act of making someone become unconscious by cutting off his or her supply of air. Severe oxygen deprivation that leads to a…

  • Suffocate

    To impede respiration. To make someone stop breathing by cutting off the supply of air to his or her nose and mouth. To impair respiration; to smother, asphyxiate.  

  • Sudoriferous

    Secreting sweat. Producing sweat.