Community deworming: Measures to prevent disease

Doctor, can my 15 months old be dewormed? I heard people say that worm infection can cause abdominal pain, loss of appetite, is there a doctor? Today, my baby has a fever, take this medicine, can I get rid of the worms today? These are some of the most frequently asked questions in pediatric clinics. According to a survey by the Institutes of Malaria - Parasites - Insects and provinces from 2013 to 2017, the rate of worm infections across the country in recent years has remained at a high level. Therefore, the problem of deworming still needs a lot of attention, especially in children, who are at high risk of worm infection. Join SignsSymptomsList to learn some important points in intestinal deworming in the community. 

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• 1. Why deworming?
• 2. Objects of deworming in the community
• 3. Drugs used: Albendazole or Mebendazole
• 4. Preventive measures

1. Why deworming?

The main types of intestinal worms in humans include roundworms, whipworms, hookworms/beaks, and pinworms, which are very common in Vietnam. When infected with worms, in addition to worms residing and taking up nutrients of the body, worms also cause many troublesome symptoms for children. If infected with worms, children may experience digestive disorders (vomiting, abdominal pain, etc.), and also have to share food for these uninvited guests, so they will be slow to grow, malnourished, and healthy. Poor immunity makes it easy to get other infections.

When female pinworms come to the anus to lay eggs, it will cause itching, night crying, and insomnia. In girls infected with pinworms, the worms can also crawl to the genitals causing infection, crawling into the urinary tract, causing urinary symptoms. Young cases of hookworm infection may develop severe anemia because of chronic blood loss due to damage to the intestinal lining causing prolonged bleeding. Therefore, children infected with worms may experience anorexia, growth retardation, malnutrition , anemia, etc., affecting both intellectual and spiritual development, reducing working capacity, and even causing complications. intestines, worms enter the appendix causing inflammation, worms enter the bile duct, which can be fatal.

Why do we need to deworm regularly?

2. Objects of deworming in the community

2.1 Risk factors 

People infected with worms are transmitted through soil by ingesting worm eggs from contaminated food and water, through dirty hands. For hookworm / beak larvae penetrate through the skin into the body and cause disease in humans.

Children at the age of discovery are the most susceptible to worm infections. Because children often put their hands in their mouths, or actively crawl and play on the floor and then suck their fingers, sometimes children drop food on the ground and then pick it up to eat, so children are very susceptible to infection with worms. such as roundworms, whipworms, and pinworms. In rural areas, especially those where vegetables are grown, using fresh manure to fertilize vegetables and plants is a favorable condition for children (barefoot) to be infected with hookworms, because larvae penetrate the skin. enter the child's body.

2.2 When to deworm? 

Previously, only children 2 years of age and older were dewormed. However, the rate of worm infection in many localities is still high, the high infected subjects are primary school students, preschool children and women of reproductive age, especially children from 12 to 24 months old. Therefore, the Ministry of Health has expanded the object of deworming in the community, children from 12 months of age and older can be dewormed.

Note: Do not deworm in the following subjects:

• People who are suffering from acute illness, have a fever.
• Having some chronic diseases such as kidney failure, heart failure, liver failure, bronchial asthma.
• People with a history of allergy to the ingredients of the drug.
• Pregnant women in the first 3 months, lactating women, children under 12 months old.

The number of deworming times per year will depend on the prevalence of worms in your area, usually every 6 to 12 months. In areas with a low prevalence of worm infestations, deworming only once every 2 years or mass deworming is not required, but only when symptomatic.

3. Drugs used: Albendazole or Mebendazole

Amount:

Children from 12 months to under 24 months: Albendazole 200mg or Mebendazole 500mg single dose.

- People 24 months of age and older: Albendazole 400mg or Mebendazole 500mg single dose.

The above drugs are prepared in the form of tablets, fragrant, sweet, can be chewed, crushed before drinking or suspension, depending on the age of the baby to choose the appropriate drug form. The drug can be taken at any time of the day, no need to fast. However, it is best to drink it at night before going to bed. Currently, in preschool, children are also given medicine once a year, usually at the beginning of the school year, parents should note that children should take it again after 6 months.

4. Preventive measures

 4.1 Personal hygiene

• Wash hands with soap before eating, after playing, after coming into contact with soil, and after defecating. Always keep your fingernails clean, don't suck your fingers. Wash the anus with soap after each time the baby has a bowel movement, do not let the baby defecate indiscriminately, do not leave the baby naked or wear pants with holes in the bottom.
• Always wear shoes, sandals, do not sit on the ground.
• Eat and drink hygienically, eat ripe, drink ripe, fruits should be peeled after washing.

 4.2 Sanitation of the environment

• Build and use hygienic latrines, do not use fresh manure to fertilize fields and crops, and do not defecate indiscriminately.
• Regularly clean classrooms and houses.
• In rural areas, it is necessary to arrange a fecal treatment area far away from the residence and the water well. Don't let your baby crawl or play with sand

Give your baby a dewormer every 6 months. If a member of the household is infected with pinworms, the whole family should be dewormed.

Doctor: Pham Thi My Anh

See more related articles:

• Human roundworm infection: The most common helminthic disease
• Parasitic infections: Signs and things to know
• How to use Fugacar (mebendazol) dewormer?