Chapter 13  Anthelmintic Agents

Chapter 13  Anthelmintic Agents

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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?

Test Bank – Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 205

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.

4. 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.

5. What would be a priority nursing action related to the care of a patient taking albendazole (Albenza)?

A) Check blood pressure, pulse, and respirations

Test Bank – Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (7th Edition by Amy Karch) 206

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.