USMLE · Question #587
A 35-year-old male comes to the physician due to fatigue. He recently returned from a trip to Japan. Laboratory results are as follows: Hemoglobin " 9 g/dL - Mean corpuscular volume " 108 fl MCHC " 33
The correct answer is E. praziquantel. Diphyllobothrium latum is a tapeworm which can cause vitamin B12 deficiency because it competes for this vitamin in the small intestine. Infection with this tapeworm occurs after consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish. Treatment of infection with Diphyllobothrium latum
Question
A 35-year-old male comes to the physician due to fatigue. He recently returned from a trip to Japan. Laboratory results are as follows:
Hemoglobin " 9 g/dL - Mean corpuscular volume " 108 fl MCHC " 33 g/dL - Mean corpuscular hemoglobin " 35 pg. A peripheral blood smear is obtained which reveals enlarged red blood cells and hypersegmented neutrophils. The most appropriate pharmacologic treatment for this patient is with
Options
- Aalbendazole
- Bdiethylcarbamazine
- Civermectin
- Dmetronidazole
- Epraziquantel
How the community answered
(34 responses)- A3% (1)
- B3% (1)
- C15% (5)
- D6% (2)
- E74% (25)
Explanation
Diphyllobothrium latum is a tapeworm which can cause vitamin B12 deficiency because it competes for this vitamin in the small intestine. Infection with this tapeworm occurs after consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish. Treatment of infection with Diphyllobothrium latum is with praziquantel. Praziquantel is an antihelminth medication which works by increasing the cell membrane permeability to calcium and causing paralysis of the worms. It is also used to treat infection with Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus, Schistosoma haematobium and Clonorchis sinensis.
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