Patna: Dozens of children became unwell after being administered filariasis medication during a government health drive at two primary schools in Ramnagar Diara Ganpat Rai Tola Primary School and Naya Primary School, prompting panic and a brief protest by parents, officials said.
The incident occurred on Wednesday as part of a mass deworming and filariasis eradication campaign under the midday meal programme. Children were given albendazole tablets, a common anti-parasitic drug. Soon after ingestion, several students complained of dizziness and vomiting. Within minutes, 38 children reported discomfort and required medical attention, creating chaos in the school premises.
Teachers alerted health officials and, with help from villagers, the affected students were transported to Athmalgola Primary Health Center. First aid was administered, and civil surgeon Dr Yogendra Prasad Mandal monitored the situation. Authorities said 28 children were discharged within an hour and the remaining students later in the evening.
Seven children with persistent symptoms were referred to the community health centre in Bakhtiyarpur Community Health Center for further observation. Dr Aman Kumar, the in-charge medical officer, said most of the children stabilised quickly and were transported by ambulance as part of the quick response team’s protocol.
Health officials attributed the reactions to known side effects of albendazole, particularly when taken on an empty stomach. Dr Subhash Chandra Prasad of the vector-borne disease control unit said vomiting, headache and dizziness can occur if the medication is consumed without adequate food. He added that children’s lower tolerance levels may have intensified symptoms but stressed that the reactions were not serious and typically subside.
Parents gathered at the schools following news of the incident, briefly protesting and demanding assurances about the safety of the health programme. Local education and health officials attempted to calm concerns, stating that all affected children were in stable condition and that such side effects are documented but temporary.
A block education officer reported that 26 students from one school and 12 from the other were affected. Officials maintained that the campaign’s objective remains to combat filariasis, a mosquito-borne disease prevalent in parts of eastern India. Authorities reiterated that medical teams would continue monitoring children in future drives and urged parents not to panic.
