In a heart-wrenching incident that occurred in Madhya Pradesh’s Chindwara, six children died of acute kidney failure, allegedly after consuming government-supplied cough syrup. Serious side effects, including the death of a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old, were also reported in Rajasthan. The tragic incident occurred over the past 15 days, prompting the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to carry out a probe.
Samples of dextromethorphan hydrobromide syrup batches were collected for urgent testing to find the suspected role of the cough syrup behind the death of the children. The distribution of Coldrif and Nextro DSU Syrups was halted and is under scrutiny in Madhya Pradesh. An investigation is underway to find whether the contaminated syrup with toxic diethylene glycol (DEG) is behind the tragic deaths.
District Chief Medical Officer Dr. Manish Sharma stated that both the mentioned cough syrups will remain banned in Bhopal. These medicines will not be supplied to the state’s health centers. Meanwhile, the administration had issued an advisory to all parents, advising them not to give their children any medication without consulting a doctor in case of fever or if they are feeling unwell.
According to reports, the children’s deaths were not due to an infection or epidemic. Reports did not confirm any virus or bacteria. After ICMR teams from Delhi and Bhopal conducted tests and biopsies on the children, it was found that the children’s kidneys were damaged after consuming the cough syrup.
