Question 1

A 2-year-old child with asthma has been diagnosed with influenza A. Appropriate treatment would be:&#10;A)Amantadine (Symmetrel)&#10;B)Zanamivir (Relenza)&#10;C)Oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu)&#10;D)Symptomatic care&#10;

Accepted Answer

Oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) is approved for use in children as young as 2 weeks old for the treatment of influenza, making it appropriate for a 2-year-old child with asthma diagnosed with influenza A.

Question 2

A pregnant patient is diagnosed with HCV. Recommendations for treatment include:&#10;A)Initiating sofosbuvir-velpatasvir (Epclusa) as soon as possible.&#10;B)Treatment with famciclovir until delivery to prevent transmission to fetus.&#10;C)Administer immunoglobulin (IG) immediately after delivery to prevent transmission to the newborn.&#10;D)Treatment of pregnant women with HCV is delayed until after delivery.&#10;

Accepted Answer

Treatment of pregnant women with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is typically delayed until after delivery. This is because the safety and efficacy of HCV treatment during pregnancy have not been well established, and there is a potential risk to the fetus. Therefore, current guidelines generally recommend waiting until after the pregnancy is completed before initiating treatment.

Question 3

Effective treatment for pinworms in children is:&#10;A)&#9;Over-the-counter (OTC) pyrantel pamoate&#10;B)&#9;Ivermectin&#10;C)&#9;Itraconazole&#10;D)&#9;Metronidazole&#10;

Accepted Answer

Over-the-counter pyrantel pamoate is an effective treatment for pinworms in children. It paralyzes the worms, allowing them to be expelled from the body.

Question 4

A patient has been diagnosed with type A influenza. Appropriate prescribing of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) would include:&#10;A)Starting oseltamivir within the first 48 hours of influenza symptoms&#10;B)Advising the patient he can stop the oseltamivir when his symptoms resolve&#10;C)Educating the patient that oseltamivir will cure influenza&#10;D)Prophylactic treatment of all family members&#10;

Accepted Answer

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is most effective when started within the first 48 hours of the onset of influenza symptoms, as it can reduce the duration and severity of the illness but is not considered a cure. Stopping treatment when symptoms resolve, suggesting it will cure influenza, or prophylactically treating all family members without indications are not recommended practices.

Question 5

Education for elderly persons prescribed famciclovir includes:&#10;A)The drug may cause confusion or dizziness.&#10;B)Gloves should be worn when handling tablets.&#10;C)Take the antiviral with milk to decrease gastrointestinal upset.&#10;D)Famciclovir may cause tendon problems.&#10;

Accepted Answer

Famciclovir can cause side effects such as confusion or dizziness, especially in elderly patients, making it important to caution them about these potential effects to ensure their safety.

Question 6

Pharmacological treatment for uncomplicated chicken pox in an immunocompetent child is:&#10;A)Acyclovir within 48 hours of onset of varicella rash&#10;B)Varicella-zoster immune globulin within 72 hours of onset of varicella rash&#10;C)Famciclovir within 24 hours of onset of varicella rash&#10;D)No pharmacologic treatment is indicated.&#10;

Accepted Answer

In an immunocompetent child with uncomplicated chickenpox, no pharmacologic treatment is typically indicated. The disease usually resolves on its own without the need for antiviral medications. Acyclovir and other antivirals are generally reserved for more severe cases or for individuals who are at high risk of complications.

Question 7

Monitoring for patients who are on long-term antifungal therapy with ketoconazole includes:&#10;A)Platelet count&#10;B)Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr)&#10;C)White blood cell count&#10;D)Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin&#10;

Accepted Answer

Ketoconazole can cause hepatotoxicity, so monitoring liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin) is important to detect any liver damage early.

Question 8

When prescribing metronidazole (Flagyl) to treat bacterial vaginosis, patient education would include:&#10;A)Metronidazole is safe in the first trimester of pregnancy.&#10;B)Consuming alcohol in any form may cause a severe reaction.&#10;C)Sexual partners need concurrent therapy.&#10;D)Headaches are a sign of a serious adverse reaction and need immediate evaluation.&#10;

Accepted Answer

Metronidazole can cause a disulfiram-like reaction when taken with alcohol, leading to nausea, vomiting, flushing, and tachycardia. Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol during treatment and for at least 48 hours after completing the course.

Question 9

When prescribing acyclovir, patients should be educated regarding the:&#10;A)High risk of developing diarrhea&#10;B)Need to drink lots of fluids during treatment&#10;C)Risk for life-threatening rash such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome&#10;D)Eccentric dosing schedule&#10;

Accepted Answer

Acyclovir can cause crystalluria, leading to renal impairment, so it's important for patients to stay well-hydrated to help prevent this. Drinking plenty of fluids during treatment helps ensure proper kidney function and aids in the excretion of the drug.

Question 10

An 82-year-old patient has herpes zoster (shingles) and would benefit from an antiviral such as valacyclovir. Prior to prescribing valacyclovir they will need an assessment of:&#10;A)Complete blood count to rule out anemia&#10;B)Liver function&#10;C)Renal function&#10;D)Immunocompetence&#10;

Accepted Answer

Valacyclovir is primarily excreted by the kidneys, so assessing renal function is crucial to adjust the dose accordingly and prevent potential toxicity.

Question 11

Selection of drug therapy for hepatitis C (HCV) infection is based on:&#10;A)Patient cardiac function&#10;B)Genotype and stage of disease&#10;C)Age of the patient&#10;D)Availability of generic preparation&#10;

Accepted Answer

The answer of Selection of drug therapy for hepatitis C...

Question 12

Prior to starting HCV antivirals the following laboratory tests should be conducted:&#10;A)Complete blood count&#10;B)BUN and Cr&#10;C)Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)&#10;D)Thyroid function (TSH and free T4)&#10;

Accepted Answer

The answer of Prior to starting HCV antivirals the following...

Deck 24: Drugs Used to Treat Viral, Fungal, and Protozoal Infections