DEWORMING IN  CHILDREN

Kids can  easily pick up worm eggs at playgrounds or school or consuming unfiltered water especially in monsoon season. Presence of worms in intestines  can quietly steal your child’s nutrition, leading to fatigue, poor growth, and lack of focus due to iron deficiency

Most of the time the first dose of deworming medication is advised  and assumed that  the job is done. Here is the critical catch: one dose clears adult worms, but it usually spares the unhatched eggs. Even our National Deworming Drive is not focussing on the Second Follow up dose between 10- 14 days.

To achieve a complete gut clearance, deworming requires a two doses :

The first dose targets and eliminates the active adult worms residing in the digestive tract. However, deworming medications typically do not kill microscopic eggs that have already been laid in the gut environment.

Between 10 – 14 days, remaining eggs hatch into new larvae—before they have a chance to mature and reproduce. The second dose acts as a cleanup sweep, destroying the newly hatched larvae before the cycle can start all over again.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

• Treat the Whole House: Parasites spread easily via shared surfaces and hands. Deworming all family members and caregivers simultaneously yields the best protection.
• Maintain Hygiene: Pair medication with daily habits like trimming fingernails short, washing hands frequently, and thoroughly rinsing raw fruits and vegetables.
• Care while Bathing/ Pool activities/ Brushing – Most common reason of worms in some kids is habit of drinking water while bathing or in Pool- Play activities. Or Drinking the Basin water while brushing teeth.

DOSE OF DEWORMING MEDICINE–

ALBENDAZOLE is available as a 400 MG TABLET OF 10 ML BOTTLE by name of ZENTEL or BANDY

• AGE <2 yrs – 5 ml Syrup or Half Tablet- Repeat Same between 10-14 days
• Age > 2 yrs 10 ml of Syrup or Full tablet- Repeat Same between 10-14 days
• Same 2- DOSE course can be repeated every 6 months or once in a yearly, depending on the habits of the child and environment he is exposed to.