Drop

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

Drop Resources

Find a healthcare provider anywhere in the world quickly and easily!

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD