Causative organism for roundworm infestation is?

Appeared in: IGNOU Post B. SC. Nursing entrance-2019

Explanation

Ascaris lumbricoides, which is the scientific name for the giant human roundworm.
This organism is a type of soil-transmitted helminth, meaning its eggs must mature in soil before becoming infective.
Ascariasis, the disease it causes, is one of the most common parasitic worm infections in humans worldwide.
The infection is acquired through the fecal-oral route, typically by ingesting contaminated food or water.

Option A: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a bacterium, not a worm. It is the causative agent of gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection.
Option C: Pediculus is the genus for lice. Lice are ectoparasites (insects that live on the outside of the body) and cause pediculosis, not an internal worm infestation.
Option D: A liver fluke is a type of parasitic flatworm (trematode), such as Fasciola hepatica or Clonorchis sinensis. Roundworms belong to a different phylum, Nematoda.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of the causative agent for roundworm infestation (Ascariasis) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in patient education for preventing ascariasis, emphasizing hand hygiene, proper sanitation, and washing raw fruits and vegetables.
In endemic areas, nurses should be vigilant for signs of heavy infestation in children, such as malnutrition, failure to thrive, and acute abdominal pain, which could indicate a life-threatening intestinal obstruction.
What if? If a child presents with colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, and distension in an area where ascariasis is common, the nurse should have a high index of suspicion for intestinal obstruction caused by a bolus of worms and facilitate urgent medical evaluation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'roundworm infestation'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of microbiology and parasitology.
Analyze the options to determine the type of organism each represents (bacterium, nematode, ectoparasite, trematode).
Recall or deduce that Ascaris lumbricoides is the scientific name for the common human roundworm.
Eliminate the other options based on their classification: Neisseria is a bacterium, Pediculus is an external insect (lice), and a liver fluke is a flatworm (trematode), not a roundworm (nematode).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of the causative agent for roundworm infestation (Ascariasis).
Stem keywords: Causative organism, roundworm infestation
Lead-in keywords: is
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 99-101

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 796-798

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1855-1857

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