THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) XI warned against deworming program misinformation and reiterated that the intervention remains a “safe and effective” way to protect Filipino children from intestinal worms.
The DOH, in a press release on Thursday, called on parents, guardians, schools, and communities to support the nationwide deworming activities this July.
The agency said children are especially vulnerable to soil-transmitted helminths or intestinal worms because they are more likely to come into contact with contaminated soil.
“Left untreated, these infections can lead to poor nutrition, anemia, stunted physical growth, delayed learning, and reduced resistance to other illnesses and can also affect a child’s attendance and performance in school,” it stressed.
DOH also stressed that the deworming program uses Albendazole, a deworming medicine that has been part of the country’s public health system for nearly three decades and is recommended by the World Health Organization.
The agency described the drug as “generally safe and well tolerated.”
It noted that some children may experience mild and temporary side effects after taking the medicine, including stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or skin rashes.
“These reactions are expected in some cases, usually occur within the first few hours, and can be managed with proper medical guidance,” it stressed.
Health workers and local government units are directed to strictly follow safety protocols during both school-based and community-based deworming activities, including the proper management of any adverse events.
The agency also appealed to the public to rely only on verified information from the DOH and to avoid sharing unverified reports or misleading claims.
It warned that such content could cause unnecessary fear and discourage participation in the public health program.
“The Department remains committed to protecting the health of Filipino children through safe, science-based, and evidence-driven public health interventions,” the agency stressed.
The advisory was released following the death of a Grade 4 pupil from Trece Martires City, Cavite, after a deworming activity conducted on July 2 in coordination with the City Health Office.
The pupil was hospitalized on July 3 after experiencing vomiting and died later that day.
The Department of Education reported that based on initial medical findings, the cause of death was linked to an infection that led to septic shock.
