Drop

Drop is a term often used in medicine to refer to a small amount of liquid. It is a unit of measure of volume, the amount of fluid that falls in one spherical mass. In medicine, IV (intravenous) therapy, eye drops, and other treatments often use the term drop.

Definition

A drop is a small volume of liquid, bounded completely or almost completely by free surfaces. A simple way to form a drop is to allow liquid to flow slowly from the lower end of a vertical tube of small diameter. The surface tension of the liquid causes the liquid to hang from the tube, forming a pendant. When the drop exceeds a certain size it is no longer stable and detaches itself. Drops may also be formed by the condensation of a vapor or by atomization of a larger mass of liquid.

Medical Usage

In medicine, drops are widely used for various treatments. They are used in IV (intravenous) therapy where medication or fluids are administered directly into the veins. Drops are also used in the form of eye drops, ear drops, and nasal drops for the treatment of various conditions.

IV Therapy

In IV therapy, a drop is a unit of measure of volume. The drop rate, or the speed at which the IV delivers the medication or fluids, is usually measured in drops per minute (gtts/min). The drop factor, or the number of drops needed to measure 1 milliliter of fluid, varies depending on the size of the IV tubing.

Eye Drops

Eye drops are saline-containing drops used as an ocular route to administer medication in the eye. Depending on the condition being treated, they may contain steroids, antihistamines, sympathomimetics, beta receptor blockers, parasympathomimetics, parasympatholytics, prostaglandins, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, antifungal, or topical anesthetics.

Ear Drops

Ear drops are a form of medication used to treat or prevent ear infections, especially infections of the outer ear and ear canal. Ear drops may contain various types of medication, including antibiotics, steroids, and antifungals.

Nasal Drops

Nasal drops are used to deliver medications locally in the nasal cavities or systemically. They are used in the treatment of nasal allergies, sinus infection, and nasal congestion.

See Also

• IV therapy
• Eye drops
• Ear drops
• Nasal drops

Drop Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.