4 India-Made Cough Syrups Under WHO Scanner After Death Of 66 Children In Gambia

New Delhi: Following the death of 66 children in Gambia, the World Health Organisation has issued a medical product alert over four cough and cold syrups – Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup – made by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

“Laboratory analysis of samples of each of the four products confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants,” the WHO said.

Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which are toxic to humans when consumed, can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury that may lead to death.

All batches of the products “should be considered unsafe” till they are analysed by the respective national regulatory authorities, it added.

Meanwhile, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), India’s apex drug regulatory authority, has already launched an investigation into the matter after it was informed about the issue on September 29, media reports said.