Parents told: Rush kids to health centers

CEBU, Philippines - Two school-aged children in southern Cebu were rushed to district hospitals in Minglanilla and Oslob due to persistent vomiting and stomachache after undergoing the deworming program on Wednesday, the Provincial Information Office reported.

The children though felt better later on and were advised to go home, said PHO chief Cynthia Genosolango.

Genosolango said she has yet to receive updates from local health authorities in the towns on the cause of the vomiting and stomachache of the two children.

But she believes that the children might have experienced the side effects of the deworming administered to them by the Department of Health, as part of its school-based deworming program.

She explained that the person who has taken a deworming tablet may manifest “untoward reactions” to the medicine.

She, however, clarified that what the children experienced can also be attributed to the other factors.

“Maybe some took the medicine on an empty stomach,” she told reporters.

She further advised the parents to immediately send their children to the nearest health center should they manifest signs of negative reactions to any medicine.

“Maski sa vitamins, anything unusual ipa-check gyod sa nurse ba ron sa skwelahan… We should look at it (condition) closely and entertain possible complications,” she said.

The Department of Health, meanwhile, admitted that deworming pills have “common adverse effects,” but the side effects are “manageable and tolerable.”

The side effects include local sensitivity or allergy; mild abdominal pain; diarrhea; and erratic worm migration.

When these occur, DOH said there are mechanisms on how to properly manage the effects.

Children who experience allergy after taking the chewable pill can be given antihistamine medicines, according to the health agency.  

For abdominal pain, the parents or local health officers can give children antispasmodic, while for diarrhea, an oral rehydration solution called pluz Zinc is needed.

As to erratic worm migration, the guardians or health officers need to pull out the worms from the child’s mouth or nose. They are advised to dispose the worms properly.

Dr. Jonathan Neil Erasmo, DOH-7 Communicable Diseases Control Section chief, said side effects are bearable. But, once the reactions persist, the parents are advised to consult doctors and local health specialists.

He said deworming can help children avoid malnutrition and perform better at school.

On Wednesday, DOH launched the National School Deworming Day in a bid to rid of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) among the targeted over 1.1-million children aged five to 12 years old in Central Visayas. — (FREEMAN)