The medicine given for deworming in children in India is -

Appeared in: UPPSC 2023

Explanation

Albendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug, meaning it is effective against a wide range of parasitic worms.
It is the recommended medication by the World Health Organization (WHO) for preventive chemotherapy against soil-transmitted helminth infections.
In India, Albendazole is the drug of choice for the biannual National Deworming Day (NDD) program, targeting children and adolescents from 1-19 years.
Its single-dose efficacy, safety profile, and low cost make it ideal for mass drug administration programs.

Option B: Azithromycin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, such as respiratory tract infections or skin infections. It has no activity against parasitic worms.
Option C: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is an analgesic and antipyretic. Its function is to relieve pain and reduce fever. It does not treat the underlying cause of infections like helminthiasis.
Option D: Acyclovir is an antiviral medication specifically designed to combat viral infections, primarily those caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacology: Anthelmintic Drugs and National Health Programs as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in the success of the National Deworming Day by ensuring correct administration, providing health education on hygiene, and managing any minor side effects.
Understanding the specific drug for mass health programs is essential for community health nurses to answer queries from the public and ensure compliance.
What if? If a 1-year-old child cannot chew the tablet, the nurse must crush the half-tablet (200 mg) and mix it with a small amount of clean water to ensure safe administration and prevent choking.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the specific drug used for 'deworming' in 'children' in 'India'.
This points towards a medication used in a national public health program.
Next, analyze the options based on their pharmacological class.
Recall or deduce that 'deworming' requires an anthelmintic drug.
Evaluate each option: Albendazole is an anthelmintic; Azithromycin is an antibiotic; Paracetamol is an analgesic; Acyclovir is an antiviral.
Based on the drug classification, Albendazole is the only logical choice for treating worm infestations.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi Essentials 9e Part 3 p. 187-189

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 101-103

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