Chap 43

Question 1

Anthelmintic

Answer 1

A drug that destroys or prevents the development of parasitic worm (helminthic) infections. Also called antihelmintic or vermicide; notice that the terms for the drug categories are spelled with only one h, which appears in the second syllable of the term, whereas the term for worm infection (helminthic) is spelled with two h’s, appearing in both the first and third syllables of the term

Question 2

Antimalarial drugs

Answer 2

Drugs that destroy or prevent the development of the malaria parasite (Plasmodium sp_ in humans. ANtimalarial drugs are a subset of the broader category of antiprotozoal drugs

Question 3

Antiprotozoal

Answer 3

A drug that destroys or prevents the development od protozoans in humans

Question 4

Helminthic infections

Answer 4

Parasitic worm infections

Question 5

Malaria

Answer 5

A widespread protozoal infectious disease caused by four species of the genus Plasmodium

Question 6

Parasite

Answer 6

Any organism that feeds on another living organism (known as a host) in a way that results in varying degrees of harm to the host organism

Question 7

Parasitic protozoans

Answer 7

Harmful protozoans that live on or in humans or animals and cause disease in the process

Question 8

Protozoans

Answer 8

Single celled organisms that are the smallest and simplest members of the animal kingdom

Question 9

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine

Answer 9

TX of malaria and other parasitic infections, such as amebiasis. Hydroxychloroquine is also used to tx RA and systemic lupus

Question 10

Mefloquine

Answer 10

Management of mild to moderate acute malaria and for prevention if malaria caused by chloroquine-resistant organisms. Also used prophylactically by travelers to prevent malarial infection. Only available PO

Question 11

Primaquine

Answer 11

Destroys the malarial parasites while they are in their exoerythrocytic phase. Available PO

Question 12

Metronidazole

Answer 12

Used for tx of trichomoniasis, amebiasis, and giardiasis. Also, tx of anaerobic bacterial infections and antibiotic-induced pseudo membranous colitis

Question 13

Chloroquine (Aralen) & hydroxychloroquine Mechanism of Action

Answer 13

Work by inhibiting deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase, enzymes essential to DNA and RNA synthesis by the parasite cells
Parasite protein synthesis is also disrupted
Raise pH within the parasite, interfering with the parasites ability to metabolize and use erythrocyte hemoglobin

Question 14

Mefloquine (Lariam) Mechanism of Action

Answer 14

Believed to raise the pH within the parasite

Question 15

Metronidazole (Flagyl) Mechanism of Action

Answer 15

Interferes with DNA, resulting in inhibition of protein synthesis and cell death in susceptible organisms
Believed to directly kill protozoans by casing free-radical reactions that damage DNA and other vital biomolecules

Question 16

Primaquine Mechanism of Action

Answer 16

Ability to bind to and alter parasitic DNA

Effective in the exoerythrocytuc phase