A Message from History Teacher, Ben van Dijk

Health & Wellbeing | Deworming

Dear parents and guardians,

As part of our compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, we have established a Health and Wellbeing Committee to oversee and monitor all aspects of health and safety on our HOPE campuses. One of their expectations is that schools will promote regular deworming of students. Thus we would like to encourage you to routinely deworm your children (indeed, the whole family or household) twice a year as a precautionary measure. HOPE will send out a reminder at the beginning of each semester. 

Routine preventative deworming is a safe public health measure recommended by the WHO and by the Cambodian Ministry of Health. The recommended medications and dosages are well tolerated by children 12 months of age and older. 

The recommendation is to administer the following every six months. These treatments are available cheaply at almost any local pharmacy:  

• Adults and children >24 months old and >10kg: 

Albendazole 400mg as a single dose, chewed and swallowed OR Mebendazole 500mg as a single dose, chewed and swallowed. 

• Children 12-24 months or <10kg: 

Albendazole 200mg as a single dose, crushed and swallowed OR Mebendazole 250mg as a single dose, crushed and swallowed. 

Some information about intestinal worms, all of which are controlled by the above routine deworming: 

Probably the most common intestinal worms are pinworms/threadworms. These are tiny white thread-like worms which generally do not cause major health or developmental problems. But the symptoms of a ‘tickly’ or itchy bottom which is usually experienced at night can be very irritating and can significantly interfere with a child’s sleep. The symptoms are experienced when the female worms emerge from the anus to lay their microscopic eggs. The cycle of infestation continues when a child scratches their bottom or touches another surface that is contaminated with the eggs and then puts their fingers in their mouth. 

Soil-transmitted helminth infections are among the most common infections in humans, caused by a group of parasites commonly referred to as worms, including roundworms, whipworms and hookworms. Worms can occur in children of all ages and heavy infestation can impair nutritional status. 

Soil transmitted helminths are a public health problem that has a detrimental impact on children’s growth and development. It can cause anemia, malnutrition, weakness, impaired physical and cognitive development resulting in poor growth and school performance. Lack of appetite, tiredness, anaemia, fever, itchy bottom, diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting are some of the common symptoms. 

Deworming is recommended in order to reduce the worm burden of soil-transmitted helminths. It is advised at least once a year. Adults also need deworming because there is a chance of parasites entering our body orally either due to poor hygiene or outside food.

If one is at continuing risk of acquiring worm infestations, deworming is needed at least twice a year. 

Thank you, 

from the Health and Wellbeing Committee.