How does mebendazole affect parasitic worms according to a parent’s inquiry?

How does mebendazole affect parasitic worms according to a parent’s inquiry?

• A. It kills the worms by causing paralysis
• B. It robs the worms of glucose they need to survive
• C. It prevents them from reproducing
• D. It prevents them from attaching to the intestines

Answer: (B)

Mebendazole primarily acts against parasitic worms by inhibiting their ability to absorb glucose effectively. By disrupting glucose uptake, mebendazole effectively starves the worms, leading to their eventual death. This mechanism targets the metabolic processes of the worms, rendering them unable to utilize essential nutrients necessary for their survival and replication. While other mechanisms are involved in the action of different anthelmintics, such as certain drugs causing paralysis or interfering with reproduction, mebendazole specifically works by impairing glucose metabolism. This selective action is crucial for treating infections caused by intestinal helminths, as it leads to the depletion of the energy required for their vital functions.

Mebendazole primarily acts against parasitic worms by inhibiting their ability to absorb glucose effectively. By disrupting glucose uptake, mebendazole effectively starves the worms, leading to their eventual death. This mechanism targets the metabolic processes of the worms, rendering them unable to utilize essential nutrients necessary for their survival and replication.

While other mechanisms are involved in the action of different anthelmintics, such as certain drugs causing paralysis or interfering with reproduction, mebendazole specifically works by impairing glucose metabolism. This selective action is crucial for treating infections caused by intestinal helminths, as it leads to the depletion of the energy required for their vital functions.