The deworming campaign conducted in Panchkula district under the National Deworming Day Program was able to administer deworming medicines to 1.94 lakh children and women. The drive focused mainly on students belonging to government and private schools as well as those from anganwadi centers, colleges and technical institutes. Apart from educational institutions, the campaign also covered women and children from underprivileged areas such as slums and brick kilns.
The deworming drive which happened in Panchkula district of Haryana involved administering Albendazole tablets, which functions as an anti-parasitic drug to eliminate worms and other parasites from human stomach. The tablet was given orally by health professionals to both women and children to eliminate stomach worms.
Even though the initial target kept by the officials was 2.04 lakh, only 1,82,215 children (aged one to nineteen years) and 11,998 women (belonging to the age group 20-24) received the tablets, as per Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta.
The DC further informed that arrangements will be made available for those who missed the first round. A mop-up is scheduled to be held on February 18th at nearby Community Health Centers and Primary Health Centers for the same.
Worm infection is one of the major factors contributing to malnutrition among young children as the worms feed on the food materials in the stomach. Furthermore, it leads to conditions like anemia, a blood disorder due to the iron deficiency brought on by human intestinal worms.[1]
How Albendazole works?
Albendazole is an FDA-approved medication for treating a variety of parasitic worm infections. The integral component of Albendazole is Albendazole sulfoxide, which causes selective degeneration of cytoplasmic microtubules in intestinal and tegmental cells of intestinal helminths and larvae.[2] It also causes impaired glucose utilization and a decrease in the parasite's glycogen stores leading to decreased metabolism and destruction.
References
1. Shah et al., “Worm Infestation as a Cause of Severe Anemia in a Frail Older Adult: A Case Report.” https://doi.org/10.1097/ms9.0000000000001171. (Accessed on February 12, 2025)
2. Malik K, Dua A. Albendazole. [Updated 2023 Apr 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553082/ (Accessed on February 12, 2025)
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Jithin Paul/MSM)