DOH: Deworming Medicine Generally Safe, Warns Against Fake News

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said the medicine used in school-based deworming activities is “generally safe” with only “mild and temporary side effects” as it warned the public against sharing misinformation about the program. “The deworming medicine used in the program, Albendazole, has been part of the country’s public health program for nearly three decades and is recommended by the World Health Organization. It is generally safe and well tolerated,” the DOH said in a statement. It clarified that while some children may experience mild and temporary side effects afterward, such as stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea or skin rashes, these reactions were expected in some cases. “These usually occur within the first few hours and can be managed with proper medical guidance,” the DOH said. The statement was prompted by the death of a Grade 4 student from Hugo Perez Elementary School-Annex in Trece Martires City, Cavite, on July 2, following a routine deworming activity in the school. Based on initial medical findings cited by the Department of Education, the cause of death was linked to an infection that led to septic shock. Several other students also reportedly fell ill after the program, which was conducted in coordination with the City Health Office. Following the incident, the DOH said that health workers and local government units have been directed to strictly follow safety protocols when conducting deworming activities in schools and communities. The directive aims to “ensure the safe administration of the medicine and the proper management of any adverse events,” it added. At the same time, the DOH urged the public to “refrain from sharing unverified reports or misleading claims that may cause unnecessary fear and discourage participation in this important public health program” and to rely only on verified information coming from the agency. It also urged parents and guardians, as well as schools and communities, to continue supporting the nationwide deworming program, stressing that it helps protect children from intestinal worms that may affect their health and their studies. “[D]eworming remains a safe, effective and proven way to protect Filipino children from intestinal worms,” the DOH said. It cited that children are especially vulnerable to “soil-transmitted helminths or intestinal worms because they are more likely to come into contact with contaminated soil.”