How should a nurse explain the action of mebendazole to a concerned mother?

How should a nurse explain the action of mebendazole to a concerned mother?

• A. "It kills the worms by making them sterile."
• B. "Mebendazole robs the worms of the glucose they need to survive."
• C. "It dissolves the worms for easier elimination."
• D. "Mebendazole neutralizes the worms' toxins."

Answer: (B)

Mebendazole acts by inhibiting the metabolism of helminths, particularly by disrupting their ability to absorb glucose. This impact on glucose uptake is significant because glucose is a primary energy source for these parasites. Without the necessary glucose, the worms are unable to sustain their metabolic processes, which ultimately leads to their death. This mechanism of action is crucial for understanding how mebendazole effectively treats infections caused by various intestinal worms, such as roundworms and tapeworms. The other options do not accurately describe the mechanism of action of mebendazole. For example, the assertion that it makes the worms sterile does not capture how the drug functions at a biological level. Similarly, stating that it dissolves the worms or neutralizes their toxins does not reflect its pharmacological action, which targets their energy absorption processes. Therefore, the correct explanation centers on how mebendazole deprives the worms of glucose, resulting in their inability to survive.

Mebendazole acts by inhibiting the metabolism of helminths, particularly by disrupting their ability to absorb glucose. This impact on glucose uptake is significant because glucose is a primary energy source for these parasites. Without the necessary glucose, the worms are unable to sustain their metabolic processes, which ultimately leads to their death. This mechanism of action is crucial for understanding how mebendazole effectively treats infections caused by various intestinal worms, such as roundworms and tapeworms.

The other options do not accurately describe the mechanism of action of mebendazole. For example, the assertion that it makes the worms sterile does not capture how the drug functions at a biological level. Similarly, stating that it dissolves the worms or neutralizes their toxins does not reflect its pharmacological action, which targets their energy absorption processes. Therefore, the correct explanation centers on how mebendazole deprives the worms of glucose, resulting in their inability to survive.