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Samples of cough syrup linked to the deaths of children in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have not been found to contain kidney-damaging toxic substances. However, the Union Health Ministry on Friday advised against giving cough syrup to children under two years of age. Coughs in these children resolve on their own in most cases. Scientists from the National Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Virology, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, and other agencies visited Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh and collected samples after receiving reports of children dying after being administered the syrup.
Testing of the samples revealed that none of the samples contained diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol. State officials also tested samples, which also found no trace of these three toxic substances. However, the central government has issued an advisory limiting the use of cough syrups for children. The Director General of Health Services stated that these medicines are generally not suitable for children under five years of age.
Health Ministry Advisory
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory regarding cough syrups following deaths related to cough syrups in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The advisory states that cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under 2 years of age. All state/union territory health departments, district health authorities, and all clinical establishments/health facilities have been directed to implement the advisory in their jurisdictions. All government dispensaries, primary health centers, community health centers, district hospitals, and medical institutions have been directed to disseminate this advisory.
What does the order say?
The order states that as part of our continued efforts to ensure rational drug use and patient safety in pediatric care, this advisory emphasizes the judicious prescribing and dispensing of cough medicines for children. Most acute coughs resolve spontaneously in children within a limited period of time and do not require medical intervention.
Cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under 2 years of age. These medications are generally not recommended for children under 5 years of age. Even in children over 5 years of age, they should only be used after medical evaluation, with close supervision, appropriate dosage, the shortest effective duration, and avoiding multiple drug combinations. The public should also be encouraged to adhere to the doctor’s prescription.
Non-pharmacological measures such as adequate fluid intake, rest, and supportive care should be adopted as first-line treatment.
All health facilities and clinical establishments must ensure that they only procure and distribute medicines manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards and pharmaceutical-grade excipients. It is essential to sensitize physicians and pharmacists in the public and private sectors about these standards.
All State/Union Territory Health Departments, District Health Authorities, and all clinical establishments/health facilities should implement this advisory within their jurisdictions and disseminate it to government dispensaries, primary health centers, community health centers, district hospitals, and medical institutions.
What is the matter?
Nine children in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, and two in Rajasthan died after consuming cough syrup. These children died due to kidney failure. The cough syrups were sealed and samples were sent for testing. These samples did not reveal any toxic substances.
