Cough syrup death toll rises to

 

 

Staff Reporter :

 

The number of children who died due to contaminated cough syrup reached 20, with 14 from Madhya Pradesh and 6 from Maharashtra. Meanwhile taking serious cognisance of the deaths, Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Rajendra Shukla on Tuesday visited hospitals in city where the children are being treated. 10 children under treatment are reported to be serious. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Medical Health Officer Dr Deepak Selokar informed that 14 children, from Madhya Pradesh who, were undergoing treatment for consuming contaminated Coldriff cough syrup have died so far. Some children from Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh were admitted to a hospital in Nagpur after their condition deteriorated.

 

Earlier, doctors in Nagpur could not find the reason. National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune team too had visited Nagpur but they too could not diagnose the children. Taking stock of the situation, the paediatricians in Nagpur tried to identify the problem and came to conclusion that it might have been because of contaminated cough syrup. It has not yet been established that the children in Maharashtra consumed contaminated Coldriff cough syrup. Investigations have revealed that these patients died due to multiple organ failure.

 

According to a report by the Union Health Ministry, samples of Coldriff cough syrup were found to contain high levels of diethylene glycol (DEG). Diethylene glycol is a toxic liquid used in industrial products and can cause serious damage to children’s kidneys. There was a stir in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after some children died after consuming allegedly contaminated cough syrup. This investigation has revealed that diethylene glycol was found in the samples of Coldrif cough syrup. In this backdrop, the State Governments concerned have immediately stopped the sale of this syrup. Also, the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) has started an inspection of drug manufacturing companies in six states. Dr Selokar told ‘The Hitavada’, “Most children are below 15 years of age. We have submitted our report about these deaths to National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC).” NCDC Team in Delhi is likely to come to Nagpur to investigate this entire matter.

 

Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, who also has the portfolio of Health, visited hospitals in Nagpur where children are being treated. More number of patients are at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) followed by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Colours Hospital, Getwell Hospital, Lata Mangeshkar Hospital and some others. Dean of GMCH Dr Raj Gajbhiye told ‘The Hitavada’, “Deputy Chief Minister visited the hospital and we apprised him of the treatment. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangement and the treatment. He assured all help from his Government whenever needed.” 

 

The Vidarbha Chest Association President Dr Rajesh Swarnakar and Secretary Dr Naynesh Patel, on Tuesday issued a critical public health advisory against the rising and unnecessary use of cough syrups. “Scientific evidence consistently indicates that self-limiting viral infections are the primary cause of most acute coughs. A comprehensive 2020 review in the BMJ concluded that common cough syrup ingredients lack robust proof of efficacy. More alarmingly, many formulations, particularly those containing codeine-based compounds or certain antihistamines, pose a significant risk of side-effects and potential addiction.

 

This is especially dangerous for young children. Children under six are highly vulnerable to adverse effects, including severe sedation, respiratory depression, and neurological complications. We strongly caution pharmacies against the unsupervised sale of these syrups for paediatric use,” pointed out Dr Swarnakar. The public is advised to avoid purchasing over-the-counter items. For a simple cough, the safest and most effective remedies are honey (for children over one year old) and adequate hydration. The focus must shift from merely suppressing the symptom to treating the underlying cause under a physician’s guidance. Prioritising non-pharmacological methods ensures safer recovery and prevents unnecessary harm, advised Dr Patel. Dr Ashok Thakur, General Secretary of Progressive Medical Teachers Association, Madhya Pradesh said, “The incident is unfortunate and action should be taken on manufacturers, certifier, drug controller and officers. Doctors have no role to play in the production and distribution of the medicines.”