Parents in Kiambu County have been urged to be deworming their children in an effort to prevent worm infections and other related diseases.
Speaking from her office on Thursday, Faith Munoru, a nutritionist at the Kiambu County Hospital said that lack of deworming in children could lead to health complications that may result to severe stomach pains and vomiting, and can also affect normal growth and cause malnutrition in children.
She said that most of the parents were ignorant on the need to deworm their children, noting that those who try and do it once in a while usually lack consistency and adherence towards the exercise.
She said parents who were not keen in having their children dewormed were risking their health as the intestinal worms rob the children of vital nutrients, slowed down their mental development and might impair their physical growth.
According to her, deworming drugs should always be administered to children after every three months so as to keep them healthy and free from stomach and other related illness.
Munoru further added that the worms could cause anaemia, lethargy and other health problems that derail a child’s development.
She further said that parents can limit their children’s risk of getting infected with worms by simply exercising simple preventive measures such as washing of hands before meals, drinking boiled or filtered water, washing of fruits before eating and to always form a habit of washing their hands after visiting the toilet.
The nutritionist however noted that adults from the region have ignored the need of deworming themselves with a notion that it’s meant for children.
She urged them to also embrace the importance of deworming themselves and should not focus on their children alone.