( CNN ) -- Kindergartens in three Chinese provinces are accused of giving prescription drugs to children without their parents ' knowledge , according to Xinhua , China 's state-run news agency . The drugs were given to prevent the children from getting sick in order to boost attendance , the news agency reported . The schools get paid based on attendance . The scandal started last week in one kindergarten in the city of Xi'an and has now spread to several in the country , prompting China 's education and health ministries to require its local branches to check all kindergartens and primary schools for illegally administered drugs , according to the Global Times newspaper . Almost 2,000 children who attended the suspected kindergartens are receiving medical attention as some reported side effects from the medication , such as dizziness , stomachaches , leg pains and genital swelling , Xinhua said . In an article Tuesday , state media called it a `` crisis of confidence in kindergarten managers . '' It said that many parents are fed up with private kindergartens `` which are poorly funded , poorly managed and frequently in a bad state of repair . '' China 's preschools have been riddled with what the state media called `` a long history of avoidable problems '' such as food safety and physical abuse . Some angry parents of the affected kindergartens rallied in front of the facilities and local government buildings . First incidents . Last week , Xinhua reported that a parent accused a kindergarten in Xi'an , in Shaanxi province of administering an antiviral drug to children . One parent told the Global Times that several kindergarteners had been complaining about stomachaches or night sweats . When their parents took them to the doctors , they found abnormal results in urine and blood tests -- traces of possible damage to the kidney or liver , the parent told Chinese media . The doctors were stumped over the diagnosis . Local authorities said that the administrators at the Fengyun Lanwan Kindergarten had given children moroxydine ABOB , a medicine which can cause side effects such as sweating , loss of appetite and hypoglycemia since 2008 . The prescription drug is used to treat the flu . `` Teachers told my child the pill was good for him but should be kept secret , '' one parent , identified as Zhang told Xinhua . `` They have been taking it for nearly three years . '' Another kindergarten in Xi'an , called Hongji Xincheng has also been suspected of following the same practice , Xinhua said . Together , the two kindergartens have 1,455 students . Little known about drug in question . Dr. Nelson Lee , professor of infectious diseases at the Chinese University of Hong Kong , said not much is known about moroxydine ABOB . The drug was produced in the 1950s and could have some antiviral effects such as suppressing the flu virus , but there are no reports or clinical trials in English.This means doctors know little about how helpful or harmful it could be . For kindergartens to administer such a drug with little research or data is something Lee said he has never heard of . `` I think the most effective , suitable way to prevent flu infection is to ask the students to get flu vaccines every year . It 's the proven , safest way to prevent flu , rather than taking long-term medication with unknown side effects and efficacy . '' Similar incident in Jilin province . Days later , another kindergarten came under scrutiny , this time in the northeastern province of Jilin . Investigators told Xinhua that a branch of the Fanglin Kindergarten in Jilin City had given some children the same drug -- moroxydine ABOB -- to prevent them from catching colds and infectious diseases . The kindergarten staff were reported to have said they were using the drug to improve attendance . Three administrators have been arrested , according to Xinhua . The kindergarten 's 375 students are getting checked at hospitals , it reported . Latest incident in Hubei province . The parents of children who had been attending Xingang Kindergarten in Hubei province , had become suspicious , telling Xinhua that their children developed symptoms such as stomachaches , irregular heartbeats , itching , vomiting and dizziness . Kindergarteners told their parents that they were forced to swallow `` white , bitter-tasting pills . '' The principal and vice principal of the kindergarten `` admitted to having fed pupils an over-the-counter anti-fever drug and vitamins to boost their immunity and improve attendance , '' reported Xinhua on Tuesday . The kindergarten , located in Yichang City , was shut and about 200 students are receiving medical check-ups , according to China 's state media . Authorities are looking into where the schools got their supply of prescription medication .
State media : Several kindergartens in China gave prescription drugs to kids . Several students had side effects from taking antiviral drug , meant to treat flu . Xinhua : `` Crisis of confidence in kindergarten managers ''