No Cough Syrups for Children Under the Age of Two Years: Government Issues Advisory After 11 Deaths

The Directorate General of Health Services, or DGHS, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has released an advisory on the use of cough syrup for children. The step was taken after at least

11 kids died in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after reportedly consuming counterfeit cough syrup, raising concerns about the safety of over-the-counter cold medicines. “Cough and cold medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children under two years. These are generally not recommended for ages below 5 years and above that, any use should follow careful clinical evaluation with close supervision and strict adherence to appropriate dosing, the shortest effective duration, and avoiding multiple drug combinations,” the advisory read. “Further, the public may also be sensitized regarding adherence to prescription by the Doctors." The advisory also emphasises that most cough-related illnesses in small children are self-limiting. It also calls for greater reliance on supportive measures like hydration with water and other liquids, along with adequate rest, and has directed states to ensure the guidance is disseminated widely across government dispensaries, PHCs, CHCs, district hospitals, and medical institutions.

Health Ministry orders probe

Earlier in the day, in a statement, the health ministry also said a probe was launched into the claims linked to deaths in the two states. Families of the affected children have alleged that initially, the kids suffered from colds, coughs, and fevers, and were taken to primary health centers where doctors had prescribed them the cough syrups, which they say are contaminated. After that, their kidneys were affected, with their condition worsening. Dr Pawan Nandurkar, Associate Professor and Head of Pediatrics in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, told ANI that the deaths and the kidney injury case are linked to the cough syrup called Coldrif, which everyone has been blaming. While the ministry said in the initial probe no trace of contaminants – or even Diethylene Glycol (DEG) or Ethylene Glycol (EG) - known to commonly lead to kidney injury – were found in the cough syrups, a team is still investigating "all possible causes" that could be behind the child deaths. DEG is a highly toxic chemical that causes severe kidney damage and is life-threatening. There have been similar cases across India before, as in 2020, at least 12 children died in Jammu after drinking a contaminated cough syrup. In 2022, at least 70 children in The Gambia died, their deaths were also linked to Indian syrups laced with DEG.