What is the dose of Albendazole for de-worming in adolescent boys and girls?

Appeared in: Raj. CHO -2020

Explanation

The standard recommended dose of Albendazole for treating common intestinal worm infestations (like hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm) in individuals older than 2 years is a single 400 mg dose.
This includes adolescents and adults, making 400 mg the correct dosage for the population mentioned in the question.
The National List of Essential Medicines in India lists Albendazole in 400 mg tablet strength for intestinal helminthiasis.
Administering it as a single dose (Once a Day - OD), often at bedtime (HS), improves compliance and is effective for routine deworming.

Option A: A dose of 100 mg twice daily (BD) is an underdose for treating common intestinal worms in adolescents and is not a standard regimen.
Option B: A 200 mg single dose is the recommended dosage for children in the 1-2 year age group, not for adolescents.
Option D: A dose of 800 mg twice daily (BD) is excessively high for routine deworming and would lead to an increased risk of toxicity and adverse effects.

Visual 1: Infographic: Age-wise dosage chart for Albendazole in national deworming programs.
Visual 2: Image: A blister pack of 400 mg Albendazole chewable tablets to familiarize students with the drug form.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacology: Anthelmintic Dosage helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a key role in mass drug administration programs like National Deworming Day, ensuring correct dosage and health education.
Nursing intervention includes instructing the patient to chew the tablet well before swallowing and to take it with a meal (especially a fatty one) if treating systemic infections, to increase absorption.
It is crucial to screen for pregnancy before administration, as Albendazole is contraindicated, especially in the first trimester.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It's a direct recall question about a specific drug dosage for a specific population.
The key terms are 'Albendazole', 'dose', and 'adolescent'.
Recall or look up the standard treatment guidelines for common intestinal worms.
Remember that for many anthelmintics, the dose for children over 2 years is the same as the adult dose.
Evaluate each option against the standard dose. 400 mg single dose is the standard for this age group.
Eliminate other options: 200 mg is for toddlers, and 100 mg or 800 mg are incorrect for this indication.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi OneStop 9e p. 432-435

Practise the full Raj. CHO -2020

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.