The deaths of 12 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan were linked to the use of cough syrups till now, raising havoc in the country. However, the Union Health Ministry claimed that none of the samples contained toxins. But the Centre had to issue an advisory to all states and Union territories on Friday, where it firmly stated not to prescribe or administer any cold and cough medication to children below two years of age.
Following reports of children's deaths due to contaminated cough syrups in Madhya Pradesh, the Union Health Ministry picked up samples. It claimed that none of the samples contained diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol, two of the toxins that are known for severe kidney damage. The children reportedly died due to renal failure after consuming contaminated cough syrups.
Despite the Centre ruling out contamination in the cough syrups, what remains unknown is what exactly caused kidney failure in children. Nine children have died in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh in a month, while three deaths have been reported in Rajasthan within a week, with many other children developing complications.
9 of 19 syrups contamination-freeThe samples collected didn't have a concentration of diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol as claimed by the Union Health Ministry.
Earlier, the district administration had banned two cough syrup brands in Madhya Pradesh as a precaution due to a suspected link between the deaths and the syrup. The entire stock of a Jabalpur distributor who had been supplying the cough syrups had been sealed.
According to the state officials, 9 out of 19 samples collected by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and state teams revealed no signs of contamination. For the remaining 10 samples, including the two whose sale has been prohibited temporarily in Chhindwara, the report is yet to be received. A detailed forensic and biochemical analysis is awaited by the authorities before drawing any conclusions.
The cases were first reported in late August, when children (mostly aged below five) showed early symptoms of a cold and mild fever after being administered cough syrup with some routine medicines. Just within a few days, their condition worsened with reduced urination, followed by kidney-related issues.
Children in Rajasthan had consumed the cough syrups distributed under the State Government's free medicine scheme. However, the State Health Department denied the deaths linked to the dextromethorphan-based formulation. The test results are still pending amid a formal investigation by a three-member committee, but the syrup's sale/ distribution has been banned.