Amid the cough syrup row in India, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a medical product alert for three adulterated oral liquid medicines (cough syrups) manufactured in India. These three cough syrups, including Coldrif cough syrup have been identified as syrups that could cause severe and potentially life-threatening illnesses.
Why has WHO flagged these cough syrups?
WHO has warned that the identified syrups commonly used to treat cold, flu, and cough symptoms, have been linked to cases of severe illness and child fatalities and could cause severe and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Additionally, the organisation has urged authorities worldwide to report to the agency if any of these products are detected in their countries. The global health body stated that such medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children below two years of age and are generally not recommended for those under five.
Which are they?
The three cough syrups that have been flagged by WHO are: Coldrif from Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife from Shape Pharma. The global health body identified specific batches of these syrups as the affected medicines, considering them substandard as they failed to meet their quality standards and specifications.
Cough syrup row in India
Notably, several children who died in Madhya Pradesh a week ago were linked to the consumption of Coldrif cough syrup. Following this, on October 8, India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) reported to the WHO the presence of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in at least three products COLDRIF, Respifresh TR and ReLife.
The central government had also issued an advisory to all states and union territories, urging extreme caution in the prescription of cough syrups for children. The Coldrif syrup, manufactured in Tamil Nadu by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, was found to be dangerously contaminated with the toxic chemical diethylene glycol. The company’s manufacturing license was revoked, and its owner, G. Ranganathan, was taken into custody.
“Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. The contaminated oral liquid medicines referenced in this alert are unsafe, and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury, which may lead to death,” WHO said.
Also Read: Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict: Why are the two nations fighting? What it means for India | Explainer
