"Albendazole 400 mg is a safe and effective drug for the treatment of parasitic worms. It is approved by the World Health Organization for treatment of worms and used globally," Health Minister J P Nadda told reporters at the launch of Malaria Elimination Framework.
The affected children were taken to hospitals in Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana and Chhattisgarh as they complained of uneasiness after being administered Albendazole tablets on the occasion of National Deworming Day on February 10.
"The medicine sometimes causes mild side effects, particularly if it taken on empty stomach or the worm load is high among the children. Symptoms like vomiting or nausea may occur in one or two per cent cases. Care needs to be taken that the children are administered this drug in presence of teachers or guardians," he said.
"I want to assure the parents that there is no need to worry or panic. None of the cases reported was a serious one. All of them are being closely monitored. It was a huge programme where around 27 crore children were given deworming tablets," he said.