Seeking to play down reports of over 200 children falling sick after consuming deworming tablets, the government today said there is "no need to worry or panic" as the drug is WHO approved and has "mild side effects" on one to two per cent of the children for a short time.
"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.
"A total of 236 among a target of 27 crore children have reported some mild adverse effects from states of Bihar, Chattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The children were hospitalised, kept under observation and discharged without any major or serious complication. This is as per our standard protocol," the minister said.
"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.
It was the largest-ever single-day public health campaign in the world targeting approximately 27 crore children aged between one and 19 years throughout the country at risk of parasitic worm infection, through the platform of schools and anganwadi centres.
"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.
