Following the deaths of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Health Ministry has issued an advisory on cough syrup.

Bhopal: Nine to eleven children have reportedly died in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to cough syrup. Reports of children dying from cough syrup consumption have been circulating for the past week. The Health Ministry has now issued an important advisory to all states, advising them to carefully and sparingly administer cough syrup to children. The advisory states that cough and colds resolve on their own in most children and require no medication.

The advisory advises parents to be especially careful not to give cough and cold medicine to children under two years of age. Consulting a specialist doctor is essential. These medicines are also generally not given to children under five years of age. Children over 5 years of age should be given medication only if deemed necessary by a doctor after a clinical examination. This should be done in minimal doses. If given, for a short period of time. A combination of medications is also essential.

The Ministry stated that home and non-pharmaceutical measures should be prioritized for child care, such as adequate water, rest, and care. The advisory states that all hospitals, pharmacies, and health centers must ensure that they only purchase and administer safe medications manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to children. The Health Ministry has directed state and district health officials to disseminate this advisory to government hospitals, Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs), district hospitals, and medical colleges.

Following reports of child deaths, the government ordered an investigation. Following recent reports of children dying from cough medicines in Madhya Pradesh, a joint team from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Institute of Virology (NIV), and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) visited the state. In collaboration with the state administration, samples of several cough medicines were collected. Tests revealed no harmful chemicals like diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol (EG) in any of the samples.

These chemicals can cause serious kidney damage. According to the report, tests conducted by the Madhya Pradesh State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) also found no presence of these chemicals. One case of leptospirosis has been identified in the child deaths, and the investigation is ongoing. Tests conducted by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) confirmed leptospirosis infection in one of the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. NEERI, NIV Pune, and other laboratories are now testing water, mosquito and other insect samples, and respiratory samples.