Communicable diseases: hookworm transmission: practice question

A PSM 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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PSM · Communicable diseases: hookworm transmission

Sample item

A barefoot agricultural labourer has pallor and fatigue. Stool examination shows oval eggs with a thin shell and four-cell stage embryos. By which route did he acquire the infection?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Skin penetration by filariform larvae from soil

Hookworm eggs hatch in warm moist soil and develop into infective filariform larvae that penetrate intact skin, usually of the feet. Blood loss from the adult worms attached to the small intestine produces iron deficiency anaemia. Footwear and sanitary latrines are the key preventive measures.

Option by option

  • A. Skin penetration by filariform larvae from soil (correct)

    Correct. Skin penetration by larvae from soil explains infection in barefoot workers.

  • B. Ingestion of embryonated eggs in soil

    Ingestion of eggs is the route for Ascaris and Trichuris, not hookworm.

  • C. Ingestion of cysts in undercooked pork

    Ingestion of pork cysts transmits Taenia solium.

  • D. Bite of an infected sandfly

    Sandfly bite transmits kala-azar, not an intestinal helminth.

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 PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Skin penetration by filariform larvae from soil. Hookworm eggs hatch in warm moist soil and develop into infective filariform larvae that penetrate intact skin, usually of the feet.

Why is "Ingestion of embryonated eggs in soil" not the answer?

Ingestion of eggs is the route for Ascaris and Trichuris, not hookworm.

Why is "Ingestion of cysts in undercooked pork" not the answer?

Ingestion of pork cysts transmits Taenia solium.

Why is "Bite of an infected sandfly" not the answer?

Sandfly bite transmits kala-azar, not an intestinal helminth.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Communicable diseases: hookworm transmission in PSM. Blood loss from the adult worms attached to the small intestine produces iron deficiency anaemia. Footwear and sanitary latrines are the key preventive measures.

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 Communicable diseases: hookworm transmission?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM 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.