Unit5: Chapter 13 (Karch 7th Ed) - Anthelmintic Agents 1. Flashcards
- A public health nurse is speaking to parents of first graders. When discussing worm infection, the nurse
will explain that the most common type found in U.S. school-aged children is what?
A) Pinworms
B) Roundworms
C) Threadworms
D) Whipworms
Ans: A
Feedback:
The most common worm infection encountered in U.S. school-aged children is pinworms. These
worms are endogenous to the area and easily spread. Roundworms, whipworms, and threadworms are
not as common.
- A mother of a 3-year-old child brings her child to the clinic. The child is diagnosed with pinworms.
What drug would be the best choice for the patient?
A) Pyrantel (Pin-Rid)
B) Ivermectin (Stromectol)
C) Mebendazole (Vermox)
D) Albendazole (Albenza)
Ans: C
Feedback:
Mebendazole is the most commonly used anthelmintic for pinworms because it is available in a
chewable tablet. This is a good choice for the 3-year-old patient. Pyrantel is also prescribed for
pinworms but is not available in a chewable form. Ivermectin is prescribed for treatment of threadworm
disease and albendazole is given to treat active lesions caused by pork tapeworm and cystic disease of
the liver, lungs, and peritoneum caused by dog tapeworm.
- A nurse is teaching a young mother about administering pyrantel (Pin-Rid, others) to her 5-year-old
child. What will the nurse emphasize about how the agent is given?
A) In 3 doses as a 1-day treatment
B) In a morning dose and an evening dose for 3 days
C) B.I.D. for 10 days
D) Give only once
Ans: D
Feedback:
Pyrantel is administered orally as a single dose. Albendazole is prescribed for hydatid disease and is
given twice a day for 8 to 30 days of treatment. Mebendazole is used in the treatment of diseases
caused by pinworms, roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms and is given in a morning and evening
dose for 3 days. Praziquantel is used to treat schistosomes and is taken in three doses as a 1-day
treatment.
- A patient has been diagnosed with roundworms and is to be treated with albendazole. A priority nursing
assessment of this patient would be to determine if the patient is taking what?
A) Cimetidine (Tagamet)
B) Pioglitazone (Actos)
C) Alprazolam (Xanax)
D) Loperamide (Imodium
Ans: A
Feedback:
The adverse effects of albendazole, which are already severe, may increase if the drug is combined with
dexamethasone, praziquantel, or cimetidine. These combinations should be avoided if at all possible; if
they are necessary, patients should be monitored closely for the occurrence of adverse effects.
Pioglitazone is an oral antidiabetic agent that could be taken with albendazole. Loperamide is an
antidiarrheal drug that may be used for treatment of diarrhea as a result of the mebendazole and
pyrantel. Alprazolam should not be a concern.
- What would be a priority nursing action related to the care of a patient taking albendazole (Albenza)?
A) Check blood pressure, pulse, and respirations
B) Weigh the patient
C) Monitor renal function
D) Encourage small, frequent meals
Ans: C
Feedback:
It is important that the patient’s kidney function be monitored because a serious adverse effect of this
drug is renal failure. Even though vital signs, weight, and nutrition are important and should be
monitored, if the patient exhibits any signs of renal failure the drug should be stopped immediately.
- The nurse is caring for an adult patient receiving a prescription for an anthelmintic drug. What is a
possible nursing diagnosis for this patient?
A) Constipation
B) Disturbed body image
C) Acute confusion
D) Imbalanced nutrition: More than body requirements
Ans: B
Feedback:
A potential nursing diagnosis for the patient would be disturbed body image related to diagnosis and
treatment. There is a stigma associated with having helminthic infections. Treatment can cause
diarrhea, loss of hair, and pruritus, which could be noticed by others and further impact the patient’s
body image. Usually these drugs do not cause constipation; they have not been linked to confusion
- A nurse is teaching a patient who has been diagnosed with trichinosis. The nurse will include in the
discussion that trichinosis is caused by roundworms having what effect?
A) Disruption of the host’s normal cellular functions causing cell death and resulting in disease
B) Invasion of body tissues seriously damages lymphatic tissue, lungs, the central nervous system,
heart, and liver
C) Exposure to the delicate mucous membranes of the anus and colon producing local irritation
D) Easily passed from one individual to another resulting in rapid spreading within a work place
Ans: B
Feedback:
Trichinosis is a disease caused by the ingestion of the encysted larvae of the roundworm from
undercooked pork. These worms exist outside the intestinal tract and can seriously damage the tissues
they invade. The worms do not spread rapidly through a large group of people unless they have all
eaten the undercooked pork. They do not enter cells to alter human cellular function.
- When instructing a patient about the therapeutic effectiveness of an anthelmintic drug, the nurse would
be sure to include what?
A) Any person exposed to the patient should also be treated.
B) The drugs should never be taken with food.
C) The infected person should be isolated.
D) Strict hygiene measures are important in eradicating the worm.
Ans: D
Feedback:
When treating a patient with an anthelmintic drug, the patient should be instructed to follow strict hand
washing and hygiene measures as an adjunct in eradicating the worm. Isolation is not necessary and
prophylactic treatment is not effective with worms. Anthelmintics are often taken with food to decrease
the gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects.
- The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with hookworms. The patient is receiving mebendazole
(Vermox). What would the nurse expect to see in this patient?
A) Increased bilirubin
B) Decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin
C) Increased aspartate transaminase levels
D) Decreased blood sugar
Ans: B
Feedback:
Hookworms can cause anemia and fluid and electrolyte imbalances because of the amount of blood that
is sucked from the walls of the intestine. A decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin would indicate
anemia and is often found in patients with hookworm. Bilirubin and aspartate transaminase indicate
liver function. Because mebendazole is not absorbed systemically, adverse effects are limited to
abdominal effects such as discomfort, diarrhea, or pain so this drug would not impact bilirubin or
aspartate transaminase levels. Neither the disease nor drug should decrease blood sugar.
10. A patient is taking an anthelmintic that is absorbed systemically. What adverse effect should the nurse inform the patient might be experienced? A) Abdominal discomfort B) Diarrhea C) Loss of hair D) Pain
Ans: C
Feedback:
Anthelmintics that are absorbed systemically could cause headache, dizziness, fever, shaking, chills,
malaise, pruritus, and loss of hair. Mebendazole and pyrantel are anthelmintics that are not generally
absorbed systemically and may cause abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and pain.
- A mother brings her child to the clinic where the child is diagnosed with hookworms. The mother asks
how the child got hookworms. What would the nurse tell the mother is the route of entry for
hookworm?
A) Inhalation
B) Contact with skin
C) Ingestion of undercooked foods
D) Blood-borne exposure
Ans: B
Feedback:
The larvae penetrate the skin and then enter the blood and within about a week, reach the intestine.
Inhalation, ingestion, and blood-borne exposure are incorrect.
- A patient is diagnosed with an ascaris infection. The patient asks what the best way is to prevent ascaris infections. What is the nurse’s best response?
A) Wash hands before eating.
B) Do not share hairbrushes or hats.
C) Wash fresh fruits and vegetables before eating.
D) Avoid heavily populated areas.
Ans: C
Feedback:
Ascaris infection occurs where sanitation is poor. Eggs in the soil are ingested with vegetables or other
improperly washed foods containing the worm. The patients may be unaware until a worm in their stool
is seen or the patient becomes quite ill. Teaching patients the importance of washing fresh fruit and
vegetables will help them reduce risk of infection. Washing hands, avoiding sharing hairbrushes or
hats, and being aware in populated areas will reduce the risk of other infections but do not relate to
ascaris.
- What is an appropriate nursing diagnosis for a patient with tapeworm?
A) Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements
B) Chronic pain
C) Constipation
D) Impaired mobility
Ans: A
Feedback:
Tapeworm affects the body’s ability to absorb food products and weight loss and malnutrition often
follow unless treatment is received promptly. As a result, the best nursing diagnosis is imbalanced
nutrition: less than body requirements. Patients with tapeworm are often symptom-free but may
experience some abdominal discomfort and distention as well as weight loss so they do not have
chronic pain, constipation, or impaired mobility.
- Why is it important for a nurse to inquire about any foreign travel of a patient with a suspected
lymphatic or hematologic disorder?
A) To determine the varied sexual history of the patient, if any
B) To determine the potential exposure to infectious agents
C) To determine whether the patient has had any blood transfusions
D) To determine whether the patient adopted any specific dietary habits
Ans: B
Feedback:
Knowledge of recent travel can help the nurse to pinpoint potential exposure to helminths, parasites, or
other infection exposure common in the area visited. The nurse should specifically ask about foreign
travel to countries where malaria or parasitic roundworms are common. Sexual history, dietary habits,
or any blood transfusions that the patient may have had before would not be adequately explored by
questioning travel history.
15. What helmintic infestation occurs in tropical areas and is carried by snails? A) Schistosomiasis B) Platyhelminths C) Trichinosis D) Filariasis
Ans: A
Feedback:
Schistosomiasis is a common problem in many tropical areas where the snail that is necessary in the life
cycle of the fluke lives. Trichinosis is caused by eating undercooked pork and can occur in any part of
the world. Filariasis and platyhelminths are not restricted to tropical areas.