Whipworm infection, treatment

Elecampane is stated to possess expectorant, antitussive, diaphoretic, and bactericidal properties. Traditionally, it is used in the treatment of bronchial and tracheal catarrh, cough associated with pulmonary tuberculosis, and dry irritating cough in children. Alantolactone is used as an anthelmintic in the treatment of roundworm, threadworm, and whipworm infection. 

Mebendazole is a benzimidazole carbamate derivative that is used for the treatment of threadworm, roundworm, whipworm and hookworm infections. It is not recommended for women who are pregnant and in children under 2 years because the manufacturer reports that toxicity in animal studies has been reported. 

The fact that most intestinal nematodes elicit a Th2 response in chronic infection has suggested the possibility to use experimental infections with such parasites for the treatment of Thl-mediated diseases, such as the inflammatory bowel diseases. Patients affected with Crohn s disease or ulcerative cohtis were treated with the ova of a porcine whipworm Trichuris suis, which resulted in clinical amehoration of both diseases. 

Mebendazole is a benzimidazole that kills parasitic worms by blocking glucose uptake, thus depleting stored glycogen. Without glycogen, parasites cannot reproduce or survive. It is indicated in the treatment of Trichuris trichuria (whipworm), Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm), Ascaris lum-bricoides (roundworm), Ancylostoma duodenale (common hookworm), or Necator americanus (American hookworm), in single infection or mixed infections. 

Mebendazole and pyrantel pamoate (not listed in this question) are drugs of choice for the treatment of combined infections due to hookworm and roundworm. If this patient is also infected with Trichuris trichiura (whipworm), mebendazole would be more effective than pyrantel pamoate. The answer is (C). 

Orally al orbed anthelmintic used for treatment of infections caused by pinwonn, whipworm, common roundworm, and hodtworms. 

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