EXPLAINER: What is deworming?

Various agencies are investigating the death of an 8-year-old student in Trece Martires, Cavite after he drank a laxative at his school.

Despite what happened and amidst the fears of parents, the Department of Health and the Department of Education will continue the deworming program in public schools.

What is deworming and what effect does it have on the human body?

On July 29, 2015, the Department of Health (DOH) launched "Oplan Goodbye Bulate." The DOH's target was to deworm 16 million students in 38,656 public schools nationwide, a move that was praised by the World Health Organization as the largest deworming campaign in the world.

Since 1999, deworming has been part of the DOH program. But in Oplan Goodbye Bulate, the activity will be carried out by schools simultaneously in just one day.

This DOH campaign, to date, is conducted twice a year, every January and July, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd).

This includes children in kindergarten to Grade 6. But many parents are now worried following the news that a student in Trece Martires, Cavite died after allegedly being given a laxative at their school.

What is deworming?

Deworming aims to eliminate intestinal parasitism or worms. It prevents and reduces the incidence of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections (STH).

Helminth infections are caused by human intestinal roundworms and hookworms. Their eggs can be found in water or soil contaminated with human feces.

The STH often affects children who do not wash their hands before eating. STH can potentially cause malnutrition because the worm takes nutrients that should go into its host's body.

Some worms also cause anemia and a weakened immune system. Although infections from worms are usually mild, if left untreated, it is possible for them to develop into severe infestations that can cause complications and even death.

2 of any tablets are given for deworming:

Albendazole or mebendazole are approved and recommended by the World Health Organization for intestinal worms.

The dosage depends on the age of the person taking it. Both medications are generally safe to use, but they may cause mild and temporary side effects.

According to doctors, severe adverse effects are rare if such medications are used only for a short period of time.

But with long-term use or high dosage, it can cause liver toxicity or a blood disease called Granulocytopenia or pancytopenia.

To avoid adverse reactions, based on the DOH Administrative Order in 2010, deworming should not be given to children or individuals who have stomach pain, diarrhea, a history of hypersensitivity to deworming drugs, severely malnourished or seriously ill.

Before giving medication to children or individuals, they or their caregivers should be informed of possible adverse reactions and what to do if they experience them.

According to the DOH, albendazole was used in the deworming activity at Hugo Perez Elementary School-Annex, the school where 8-year-old Rex Mission died.

Based on Rex's death certificate, his cause of death was septic shock or the highest level of sepsis.

Sepsis occurs when a person's immune system has an extreme response to infection.

This can cause tissue and organ damage leading to shock, multiple organ failure, and death.

The DOH insists that albendazole does not cause infection.

This is said to be the first time that someone has died after taking albendazole, although it has not yet been proven that Rex's death was related to the drug.

Seven other students at the same school experienced side effects, and this is less than one percent of the student population.

DOH assures that deworming is safe and parents have nothing to fear, especially when compared to the side effects, its benefits to children's health outweigh the risks. — BAP, GMA News