Deworming children – when and why in South Africa
How children pick up worms, the signs, how routine deworming campaigns work, and the hygiene measures that stop reinfection a month later.
Why deworming is routine here
Soil-transmitted worms are common in parts of South Africa, particularly where sanitation and water access are limited. Children pick them up from contaminated soil, water and food — walking barefoot, playing in the ground, or eating without washing hands. A heavy infection causes anaemia, poor appetite, weight loss and poor growth, and interferes with schooling.
Because reinfection is common and testing every child is not practical, the approach is periodic mass deworming of children in affected areas rather than treating individuals after diagnosis. Campaigns are often run through schools and clinics.
Signs a child may have worms
- Itching around the anus, especially at night — typical of threadworm, which is common everywhere and not related to sanitation.
- Tummy pain, poor appetite, nausea or diarrhoea.
- Visible worms in the stool or around the anus.
- Poor weight gain, tiredness or pallor from anaemia.
- Blood in the urine, in areas where bilharzia occurs — a different infection with a different treatment.
Treatment and dosing
Deworming medicines are given as a single dose or a short course, are inexpensive, and are usually free through clinic and school programmes. Dose depends on the child's age and weight, and on which worm is being treated.
Medicines used for worms in South Africa:
Mebendazole — Vermox
Threadworm (pinworm); roundworm; whipworm; hookworm
Albendazole — Zentel, Andazol
Roundworm; hookworm; whipworm; threadworm; hydatid disease; neurocysticercosis
Praziquantel — Biltricide
Schistosomiasis (bilharzia); tapeworm infections
- For threadworm, everyone in the household is usually treated at the same time, because it passes around a family constantly.
- Wash all bedding, towels and nightclothes on the day of treatment.
- A second dose is sometimes given a couple of weeks later. If you were told to, do it — that is what catches the eggs that hatched after the first dose.
Stopping reinfection
- Hand washing with soap, especially after the toilet and before eating. This is the single most effective measure.
- Keep nails short, and discourage nail biting and thumb sucking.
- Wash fruit and vegetables, and use safe water for drinking and food preparation.
- Shoes outdoors where possible — several worms enter through the skin of the feet.
- Use a toilet or latrine rather than open ground, and keep it clean.
Common questions
- How often should children be dewormed in South Africa?
- In areas where soil-transmitted worms are common, children are dewormed periodically through school and clinic campaigns rather than only when symptoms appear. Ask your clinic what the schedule is where you live.
- Is deworming medicine free at clinics?
- Deworming is generally provided through public clinic and school programmes at no charge. A pharmacist can also supply it, and will confirm the right dose for your child's age and weight.
- Do I need to deworm the whole family?
- For threadworm, usually yes — it passes around a household constantly, so everyone is treated at the same time and all bedding and nightclothes are washed on the day.
Sources
- Paediatric Hospital Level Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines ListNational Department of Health, South Africa
- Primary Healthcare Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicines ListNational Department of Health, South Africa
- Clinical and public health guidanceWorld Health Organization
- Communicable disease surveillance and clinical guidanceNational Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa
Last reviewed 11 August 2026.