A mass deworming campaign will be launched in Karachi from today that will target over half a million school-age children. The campaign aims to treat children in over 2,600 public and private schools and 145 health facilities across six districts of the city, according to the Sindh government. Schools and health facilities displaying the banner of the deworming campaign will provide the treatment free of charge. Out-of-school children between the ages of five and fourteen years will also be encouraged to get treatment. A deworming week will then be held from January 30 to February 7 in selected public health facilities across Karachi to ensure wider access.

That made me think why not avail the opportunity and get all kids dewormed on “Pediatrician On The Go” as well!

So, today DEWORM all kids above two years of age. If any kid has an ongoing infection then you should wait for it to heal and then deworm.

Symptoms:
Most of the times the signs and symptoms are so vague that parents may not even think of them as a reason but sometimes the symptoms are as prominent as following:

-Loss of appetite, nausea and poor digestion. -Sometimes excessive appetite but no weight gain.
-Pain or discomfort in the tummy on and off after eating food
-Anaemia and weakness 
-Itching around the anus or vagina or urethra (causing disturbed sleep)
-Sometimes a larger bunch of worms may block the intestinal tract and cause total constipation, abdominal distension and vomiting.
-Coughing up worms
-Worms in the stool.
-Unexplained coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath in a non-asthmatic child.

Affects of Worm Infestation:
Worm infestation in children could cause severe malnutrition, poor learning abilities, poor physical development and reduce immunity which leads to children falling ill often. Worm infestation is preventable in children if regular and constant personal and environment hygiene habits are maintained.

How do we get worms:
Your child can get infested by worms through drinking or eating of contaminated food or water containing worm eggs, walking barefoot in contaminated soil, licking a toy lying on the floor or crawling on the floor. These worms hatch in the body and multiply in numbers.

How to Deworm:

Worms are contagious and spread easily through things your child might touch or even may transfer through the guardians hand when washing/cleaning the child hence it is often advised that the entire family take the treatment.

❌Infants under one year – not advisable unless suggested by a Pediatrician.
☑️1-2 year olds- 200 mg albendazole (single dose)
☑️Kids above 2 years: (Any ONE option)
*400mg Albendazole (single dose) OR
*500mg Mebendazole single dose tablet OR
*Syrup Mebendazole (100mg/5ml)
5ml twice a day for three days.
☑️Dosage frequency- once or twice a year. Depends upon the parasite load in the area you live in.

Practices which help to reduce Worm Infections:
*Keep nails clean and short. Friday is nail cutting day!
*Drink clean boiled water.
*Wash your hands properly before eating and after use of toilets.
* Hand hygiene to be maintained even after using plasticine/ play-dough/Slime and sand/clay time.
*Wash vegetables and fruits with clean water
*Keep food covered
*Do not defecate in the open.
*Do not move around barefooted.
*Keep your surroundings clean.

Side effects of Deworming?

There can be few minor side effects but no serious side effects. At times children can experience any one or more of these symptoms which is normal.
-Mild stomachache 😖
-Nausea 🤢
-Vomiting 🤮
-Fatigue 🥴
-Lose Motion 😵

Why does the child experience side effect of deworming medicine:

The dose of medicine disturbs the worms who are living happily in your kids tummy, that  leads to uneasiness in the stomach. These events are transient and are observed more commonly in children with more number of worms in the intestine. You may/may not see worms passing in the stool.

What if my child is sick (vomits)?
*If your child is sick less than 30 minutes after having a dose of mebendazole, give them the same dose again.
*If your child is sick more than 30 minutes after having a dose of mebendazole, you do not need to give them another dose. Wait until the next normal dose.

What if I forget to give it?

If you are giving the medicine twice a day: If you remember up to 4 hours after you should have given a dose, give your child the missed dose.
For example, if you usually give a dose at about 7 am, you can give the missed dose at any time up to 11 am. If you remember after that time, do not give the missed dose. Just give the next dose as usual. Make sure you give all of the doses to finish the course of medicine.

Disclaimer:
Great care is taken to make sure that the information given is correct and up-to-date. However, medicines can be used in different ways for different patients. It is important that you ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist before giving any medication to your little one.
-Dose is being mentioned here since these Deworming meds are Over the counter medicines.
-If your little one has any ongoing disease/ infection always talk to the Pediatrician first before giving any other medicines.

– Happy Deworming

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Threadworms (pinworms) produce large numbers of tiny eggs. They may be present in house dust and can stick to clothing, carpets, towels and bed linen.

They can also be picked up by contact with someone who already has worms. Because the eggs are so small, it is very easy for them to be swallowed. Then they pass into the bowel where they grow into worms.

The female lays her eggs at night around the bottom. It is this that causes the “itchy bottom” and leads to scratching. The eggs are then transferred to the fingers and finger nails, and can easily get into the mouth by finger sucking or nail biting. The life cycle of an adult worm can be as long as six weeks.

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