What is the drug given for deworming?

Appeared in: NHM MP Staff Nurse-2019

Explanation

Albendazole is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic drug, which is the first-choice treatment for most common intestinal worm infestations, including roundworm, hookworm, and pinworm.
The standard recommended dose for adults and children aged 2 years and older is a single 400 mg tablet.
This single-dose regimen is highly effective, convenient, and widely used in public health campaigns like India's National Deworming Day to control soil-transmitted helminths.
The mechanism involves inhibiting glucose uptake by the parasites, leading to their starvation and death.

Option B: This is a sub-therapeutic dose of Albendazole for standard deworming and would be ineffective.
Option C: Zinc is a mineral supplement, not an anthelmintic drug. It has no effect on parasitic worms.
Option D: Ampicillin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. It is not effective against parasites like helminths.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pharmacological treatment for intestinal helminthiasis (deworming) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Deworming is a critical public health intervention, especially for children in endemic areas, as worm infestations can lead to malnutrition, anemia, stunted growth, and reduced cognitive development.
Nurses play a key role in mass drug administration programs like National Deworming Day by administering the medication, educating the community about hygiene, and monitoring for side effects.
What if? The patient is a 1-year-old child (12-23 months). The correct dose of Albendazole would be 200 mg as a single dose, not 400 mg.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which asks for the standard treatment for 'deworming'. This points to an anthelmintic medication.
Scan the options to identify which drugs are anthelmintics. You should recognize Albendazole as a common deworming agent and Ampicillin as an antibiotic.
Differentiate between the two Albendazole options based on standard dosage. Recall that 400 mg is the standard single dose for adults and children over 2.
Eliminate the other options. Zinc is a mineral supplement, and Ampicillin is an antibiotic; neither is used for deworming.
Confirm your choice: Albendazole 400 mg once is the most common and effective regimen for mass deworming programs.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Pharmacological treatment for intestinal helminthiasis (deworming).
Stem keywords: drug, deworming
Lead-in keywords: What is

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E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi Essentials 9e Part 3 pp. 184-186, 186-188

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 204-206

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