Paediatric infections: hookworm anaemia: practice question

A Pediatrics 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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Pediatrics · Paediatric infections: hookworm anaemia

Sample item

A barefoot 7-year-old from a rural area has marked pallor, pedal oedema, a microcytic hypochromic smear and eosinophilia. Stool contains ova with a thin shell and a segmented embryo. How does this infection cause anaemia?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Chronic intestinal blood loss from worm attachment

Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) attach to the small-bowel mucosa and feed on blood, causing chronic iron-deficiency anaemia and protein loss with oedema. Infection occurs through skin penetration by larvae. Treatment is albendazole with iron supplementation.

Option by option

  • A. Chronic intestinal blood loss from worm attachment (correct)

    Correct. Chronic blood loss from attached worms causes iron deficiency.

  • B. Marrow suppression by larval toxins

    Marrow suppression is not a feature of hookworm disease.

  • C. Intravascular haemolysis

    Haemolysis is not the mechanism; the smear shows iron deficiency.

  • D. Vitamin B12 malabsorption

    B12 deficiency is linked to fish tapeworm and not to hookworm.

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.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Chronic intestinal blood loss from worm attachment. Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) attach to the small-bowel mucosa and feed on blood, causing chronic iron-deficiency anaemia and protein loss with oedema.

Why is "Marrow suppression by larval toxins" not the answer?

Marrow suppression is not a feature of hookworm disease.

Why is "Intravascular haemolysis" not the answer?

Haemolysis is not the mechanism; the smear shows iron deficiency.

Why is "Vitamin B12 malabsorption" not the answer?

B12 deficiency is linked to fish tapeworm and not to hookworm.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Paediatric infections: hookworm anaemia in Pediatrics. Infection occurs through skin penetration by larvae. Treatment is albendazole with iron supplementation.

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 Paediatric infections: hookworm anaemia?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.