Which single dose tablet, a mass treatment was introduced by Govt. of India to achieve elimination of Lymphat… - AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Explanation

DEC (Diethylcarbamazine) is the primary microfilaricidal drug used for the mass treatment of Lymphatic Filariasis.
The Government of India's strategy for eliminating LF is the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) program, which aims to interrupt disease transmission in the community.
The MDA program involves a single annual dose of DEC, typically co-administered with Albendazole, to all eligible individuals in endemic areas.
This annual single-dose strategy is a key component of the global program to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.

Option A: RMP (Rifampicin) is a primary antibiotic for treating bacterial infections like Tuberculosis and Leprosy, not parasitic infections like filariasis.
Option C: Avil (Pheniramine Maleate) is an antihistamine used to manage symptoms of allergic reactions. It has no effect on filarial parasites.
Option D: Decadron (Dexamethasone) is a corticosteroid used to reduce inflammation. While it might be used to manage inflammatory reactions in some parasitic diseases (like neurocysticercosis), it is not the primary treatment to eliminate the filarial parasite itself.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing The concept tested is the national program for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in India, specifically the drug used in Mass Drug Administration (MDA) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses are central to the success of the MDA program, responsible for community mobilization, ensuring high compliance rates, and directly observed treatment.
Patient education is a critical nursing role. Instructing individuals to take DEC after a meal can significantly reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects.
Nurses must be able to manage and provide reassurance for common side effects like fever and headache, explaining that these are often a sign the medicine is working against the parasites.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: a specific disease (Lymphatic Filariasis) and a public health strategy (mass treatment by the Govt. of India).
This is a factual recall question related to community health nursing and pharmacology.
Access your knowledge about national health programs. Recall the specific drugs used for the elimination of filariasis.
Evaluate each option based on its primary pharmacological class and indication.
Eliminate RMP (antibiotic), Avil (antihistamine), and Decadron (corticosteroid) as they are not antiparasitic drugs used for mass treatment.
This leaves DEC, the known antifilarial drug, as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The concept tested is the national program for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in India, specifically the drug used in Mass Drug Administration (MDA).
Stem keywords: single dose, mass treatment, Govt. of India, elimination, Lymphatic Filariasis
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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