World Health Organization (WHO)
Sulfadicramide, a sulfonamide anti-infective agent, was
introduced in 1942 for the treatment of bacterial infections. The importance of
sulfonamides has subsequently decreased as a result of increasing resistance and
their replacement by antibiotics which are generally more active and less toxic. The
sulfonamides are known to cause serious adverse effects such as renal toxicity,
sometimes fatal exfoliative dermatitis and erythema multiforma and dangerous
adverse reactions affecting blood formation such as agranulocytosis and
haemolytic or aplastic anaemia. Sulfadicramide is still used in some countries as a
15% ointment for application to the eye.
