Chapter 13: Anthelmintic Agents

Question 1

ascaris

Answer 1

parasitic worm that causes the most prevalent helminthic infection; ingested fertilized roundworm eggs hatch in the small intestine and then make their way to the lungs, where they may cause cough, fever, and other signs of a pulmonary infiltrate

Question 2

cestode

Answer 2

tapeworm with a head and segmented body parts; capable of growing to several yards in the human intestine

Question 3

filariasis

Answer 3

infection of the blood and tissues of healthy individuals by worm embryos or filariae

Question 4

helminth

Answer 4

worm that can cause disease by invading the human body

Question 5

hookworm

Answer 5

worm that attaches itself to the small intestine of an infected individual, where it sucks blood from the walls of the intestine, damaging the intestinal wall and leading to severe anemia with lethargy, weakness, and fatigue

Question 6

nematode

Answer 6

a roundworm such as a commonly encountered pinworm, whipworm, threadworm, ascaris or hookworm; causes a common helminth infection in humans; can cause intestinal obstruction as the adult worms clog the intestinal lumen or severe pneumonia when the larvae migrate to the lungs and form a pulmonary infiltrate

Question 7

pinworm

Answer 7

nematode that causes a common helminthic infection in humans; lives in the intestine and causes anal and possible vaginal irritation and itching

Question 8

platyhelminth

Answer 8

a flatworm, including the cestode and tapeworm; a worm that can live in the human intestine or can invade other human tissues (flukes)

Question 9

schistosomiasis

Answer 9

infection with a blood fluke that is carried by a snail; it poses a common problem in tropical counties, where the snail is the intermediary in the life cycle of the worm; larvae burrow into the skin in fresh water and migrate throughout the human body, causing a rash, diarrhea, and liver and brain inflammation

Question 10

threadworm

Answer 10

pervasive nematode that can send larvae into the lungs, liver, and central nervous system (CNS); can cause severe pneumonia or liver abscess

Question 11

trichinosis

Answer 11

disease that results from ingestion of encysted roundworm larvae in undercooked pork; larvae migrate throughout the body to invade muscles, nerves, and other tissues; can cause pneumonia, heart failure, and encephalitis

Question 12

whipworm

Answer 12

worm that attaches itself to the intestinal mucosa and sucks blood; may cause severe anemia and disintegration of the intestinal mucosa