The Department of Health in the Ilocos Region (DOH-1) has comforted parents and guardians regarding the safety of the deworming medication currently being given to young school children.
According to an official statement released Friday, the regional health agency highlighted that Albendazole has been a staple in the nation’s public health programs for nearly three decades.
The agency also noted that the medication is recognized by the World Health Organization as both generally safe and well-tolerated.
”Some children may experience mild and temporary side effects such as stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or skin rashes after taking the medicine. These reactions are expected in some cases, usually occur within the first few hours, and can be managed with proper medical guidance,” it stated.
DOH-1 urged families, educational institutions, and local communities to sustain their backing for the July nationwide deworming drive. They emphasized that the initiative remains a dependable and efficient defense against parasitic intestinal worms.
”Children are especially vulnerable to soil-transmitted helminths or intestinal worms because they are more likely to come into contact with contaminated soil. Left untreated, these infections can lead to poor nutrition, anemia, stunted physical growth, delayed learning, and reduced resistance to other illnesses,” it said, adding that they can also affect a child’s attendance and performance in school.
The health department further noted that it has directed medical staff and local government officials to meticulously follow established safety guidelines during both school-wide and community-level distributions.
These steps are designed to guarantee correct dosage delivery and the efficient handling of any potential side effects.
Furthermore, DOH-1 advised citizens to rely solely on authenticated information channels, warning against the dissemination of unverified rumors or false narratives that might trigger needless panic and hinder the success of state healthcare initiatives.