AGARTALA, Aug 10 (TIWN): Atleast 300 students have fallen sick after they were administered de-worming tablets at school with the initiative of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare which was launched under the banner of the 'National Deworming Day' -a massive school-based de-worming effort. National Deworming Day is a groundbreaking initiative focused on reducing the threat of parasitic worm infections, a widespread health issue affecting over 241 million children in India alone. Talking to TIWN correspondent, Kadamtala police official said that at least 300 students have fallen sick in different schools after they were administered with De-worming tablets under the de-worming mission in the state. Three hundred children have been admitted to kadamtala community health centre in the North District with symptoms of pain in the abdomen, vertigo and vomiting.The students were given the deworming tablets following which some of them started vomiting and were taken to the hospital. The students mainly complained of nausea. According to the sources many are having panic attacks, which are purely psychological after hearing the news that some others have fallen ill.

 However, students from Saat Songom school, Bajendra Nagar School, North Kadamtala School and many other schools had fallen sick after they were administered with De-worming tablets. Agitated parents have alleged that expired Albendazole tablets were administered to children resulting the students have fallen massively sick. 

They further questioned why were the children’s administered with de worming tablets without parents’ permission.

Deworming tablets are given to children to remove worms from their bodies. Parasitic worms known as soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomes cause various infections.

IS Sudir Rudra pal said that “It is normal for some to have such reaction when a large number of children are being administered the tablets. Sometimes, a child may have a large number of worms in the body and this happens. But there is nothing to worry”.

However, DM Sandeep Mahatme said that “ nothing is there to worry, treatment is under way, the students will be fine soon”.

However, on the other hand lack of services in Kadamtala community health centre has created much mire hue and cry among the parents. The children’s who had fallen sick were immediately rushed to  Kadamtala community health centre. Adding to woes of the parents the situation turned much more hyper when many of the children’s were administered injection, saline, treatment under the open sky beneath the tree and in the open ground.

However, lack of nurses and doctors in the community health centre has further raised the problems. Doctors and nurses were called from Dharmanagar hospital for providing treatment to the children’s.

CMO Sankar Das said that   the sickness could be partly attributed to the fact that the tablets were taken in empty stomachs while for others it could be panic.

Rumour of death of some children after taking the tablet also contributed to the panic, he said.

Worm infections can cause anemia, malnourishment, impaired mental and physical development; and may cause a serious threat to children's health, education, and productivity. According to a study, the infected children cannot concentrate on their studies and they find very hard to put up their daily activities.