Infectious diseases: hookworm anaemia: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Infectious diseases: hookworm anaemia

Sample item

A barefoot agricultural labourer has fatigue, pallor and microcytic hypochromic anaemia with eosinophilia. Stool examination shows oval eggs with a thin shell and four-cell stage. Which infection explains the anaemia?

AAncylostoma duodenale infectionBTaenia saginata infectionCTrichuris trichiura infection in mild burdenDEnterobius vermicularis infection

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ancylostoma duodenale infection

Hookworm larvae penetrate bare skin, and adult worms suck blood from the small intestine, causing chronic iron-deficiency anaemia. Treatment is albendazole with iron replacement.

Option by option

A. Ancylostoma duodenale infection (correct)
Correct. Chronic blood loss from hookworm causes microcytic anaemia.
B. Taenia saginata infection
Beef tapeworm seldom causes anaemia.
C. Trichuris trichiura infection in mild burden
Light whipworm infection is usually asymptomatic and causes little blood loss.
D. Enterobius vermicularis infection
Pinworm causes perianal itching without significant blood loss.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Ancylostoma duodenale infection. Hookworm larvae penetrate bare skin, and adult worms suck blood from the small intestine, causing chronic iron-deficiency anaemia.

Why is "Taenia saginata infection" not the answer?

Beef tapeworm seldom causes anaemia.

Why is "Trichuris trichiura infection in mild burden" not the answer?

Light whipworm infection is usually asymptomatic and causes little blood loss.

Why is "Enterobius vermicularis infection" not the answer?

Pinworm causes perianal itching without significant blood loss.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Infectious diseases: hookworm anaemia in General Medicine. Treatment is albendazole with iron replacement.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Infectious diseases: hookworm anaemia?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.