Worm Infestations - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Chapter: Why Do We Fall Ill | Topic: Worm Infestations
WORM INFESTATIONS - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Topic: Worm Infestations
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. The most common intestinal worm that affects school-going children in India is:
- Tapeworm
- Roundworm (Ascaris)
- Leech
- Earthworm
Q2. Worm infestations are generally spread through:
- Air
- Contaminated food, water, or soil with worm eggs
- Mosquito bites
- Direct physical contact like shaking hands
Q3. Which of the following is a common symptom of worm infestation in children?
- High fever with chills
- Pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, and weakness
- Difficulty in breathing
- Skin turning blue
Q4. Hookworms often enter the human body through:
- The nose while breathing
- The mouth with food
- The skin, especially when walking barefoot on contaminated soil
- Mosquito bites
Q5. Why are children in rural India more prone to worm infestations than urban children?
- Children in villages eat more food
- Children in villages often play barefoot in contaminated soil and lack proper toilets
- Children in villages do not sleep enough
- Children in villages are taller
Short Answer Questions
Q6. Name the two most common intestinal worms that affect humans in India. Mention one way each enters the human body.
Q7. List any four symptoms that would make a doctor suspect worm infestation in a child.
Q8. Explain why worm infestations are far more common in villages with open defecation and no proper sewage system than in cities with toilets.
Q9. A child in a village plays barefoot in fields, drinks water from a hand pump near the fields, and never washes hands before eating. What worms is he most at risk of getting? Explain how each enters his body.
Long Answer Questions
Q10. Describe the two most common intestinal worms — roundworm (Ascaris) and hookworm — in terms of: how they enter the human body, the part of the body they affect, the symptoms they cause, and how they lead to malnutrition in children even when the children eat enough food. Explain the concept of 'nutritional robbery.'
Q11. "Worm infestations are a disease of poverty, poor sanitation, and lack of awareness." Discuss this statement by explaining how open defecation leads to worm infestations, how poverty and ignorance prevent treatment, the long-term effects on children's growth and school performance, and the government initiatives in India (like the National Deworming Day) to control this problem.
APPLICATION / ANALYSIS
Q12. Case Study — Village Health Survey:
A health survey in a Rajasthan village with no toilets and open defecation found:
| Finding | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Children with worm infestation | 65% |
| Children who are underweight | 55% |
| Children with anaemia | 45% |
| School attendance | 60% |
| Children who have received deworming tablets | 20% |
Answer the following:
(a) What is the connection between open defecation and the high rate of worm infestation? Explain the cycle.
(b) How do worms cause both underweight conditions and anaemia in children? Explain the biological mechanism.
(c) If the government builds toilets and starts a monthly deworming program, predict two changes you would expect to see in the survey results after one year.
Q13. Real-Life Application — School Hygiene Audit:
Your school in a small town wants to check if students are at risk of worm infestation. The principal asks you to observe these habits:
| Habit | Number of Students (out of 200) |
|---|---|
| Come to school without washing hands | 80 |
| Play barefoot in the playground | 60 |
| Share lunch without washing hands | 50 |
| Drink water directly from the tap without checking | 70 |
| Wash hands with soap after using the toilet | 40 |
Answer the following:
(a) Which of these habits put students at the highest risk of worm infestation? Rank the top three habits and explain why each is risky.
(b) Design a simple, catchy hygiene poster for your school with three practical tips to prevent worm infestation.
(c) The government provides free albendazole (deworming) tablets to all school children twice a year. Why is this necessary even for children who appear healthy?