Question

Dettol and savlon is also an
(a)Disinfectant
(b)Antibiotic
(c)Antiseptic
(d)All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Dettol and Savlon are mild chemical substances that are applied on the body surfaces and wounds to kill the germs. Under such mild concentrations, these chemicals cause no harm to the skin and body and act against infections.

Complete answer:
Antiseptics are the chemicals that prevent the growth of disease-causing microbes and pathogens to form infections at the site of a wound. They are mild chemicals that kill the microbes but do not harm the skin and the body. Some examples of good antiseptics include Lysol, Carbolic acid or phenol, Iodine, Benzoic acid, Mercurochrome, Boric acid in dilute solutions, etc.
Dettol and Savlon too are examples of antiseptic solutions.

Additional Information: -Antiseptics are applied to living tissue or skin to reduce the chances of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction or pus formation.
-Some antiseptics are true germicides, i.e., capable of destroying the microbes, while others are just bacteriostatic and only inhibit their growth and multiplication.
-Antiseptics that are proven effective against bacteria are called antibacterials, ones that kill viruses are called virucides and the antifungals or antimycotics are fungicidal in action.
-The widespread use of antiseptics in the surgical field was introduced by Joseph Lister, who was inspired by Louis Pasteur’s work on germ theory.
He advocated the use of carbolic acid or phenol to ensure that any germs present in the surgical area were killed.
So, the correct answer is, “Antiseptic.”

Note: Antiseptics are distinguished from antibiotics and disinfectants by the fact that antiseptics kill the microbes present on the wound or surface of the skin of live animals. Antibiotics are used to safely destroy the bacteria present within the body and not on the surface; while disinfectants are used to sterilize or kill the bacteria present on the surfaces of inanimate objects.