Which medicine is used in National Deworming Day?

RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024

Explanation

Albendazole is the sole drug administered during India's National Deworming Day (NDD) program.
It is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic, effective against the most common soil-transmitted helminths (roundworm, hookworm, whipworm).
The primary advantage for a mass campaign is its single-dose efficacy (one 400 mg tablet), which simplifies logistics and maximizes compliance.
This practice is in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for controlling parasitic worm infections in endemic populations.

Option A: Mebendazole typically requires a multi-day treatment course (e.g., 100 mg twice daily for 3 days), making it less suitable than single-dose Albendazole for a large-scale, single-day public health program.
Option C: Permethrin is an insecticide and scabicide, not an anthelmintic. It is applied topically to the skin to treat infestations by ectoparasites like scabies mites and lice.
Option D: Pyrantel has a narrower spectrum of activity compared to Albendazole; it is notably less effective against whipworm (Trichuris trichiura). Mass deworming programs prefer a broader-spectrum agent.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacotherapy for mass deworming programs as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are central to the success of National Deworming Day, responsible for drug administration in schools and Anganwadis, health education, and managing any adverse events.
A key nursing role is community mobilization and counseling parents to ensure high participation and address any concerns or misconceptions about the program.
Patient safety involves screening for acutely ill children, for whom the dose should be deferred until they recover.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the specific drug used in a major national health initiative, 'National Deworming Day'.
This is a factual recall question based on knowledge of community health programs and pharmacology.
Analyze the options based on their drug class. Immediately rule out Permethrin, as it is a topical insecticide for skin parasites (scabies, lice), not an oral deworming agent.
Compare the remaining three anthelmintics: Mebendazole, Albendazole, and Pyrantel.
Consider the requirements for a 'mass' and 'day' program: the ideal drug must be effective in a single dose, have a broad spectrum of action, be safe, and low-cost.
Recall that Albendazole is widely known for its single-dose efficacy against the most common intestinal worms, making it the standard choice for mass drug administration programs globally and in India.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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