Bhubaneswar: Cough and cold medications should not be prescribed for children below two years, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said in an advisory to all states and Union Territories, including Odisha, on Friday.
“Even for children above 5 years, the use of these medicines should be done after careful evaluation of the health condition of the child, and close supervision of the doctor regarding appropriate dosing,” it further noted.
The advisory came as the Coldrif cough syrup tragedy rose to 23. While Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh accounted for 20 deaths, all recorded within 45 days, ten children died at GMCH Nagpur and others in nearby hospitals.The latest victims – Garvik Pawar and Mayank Suryawanshi, both between one and two years old, suffered acute kidney failure and brain damage after taking the syrup laced with DEG, an industrial solvent used in brake fluids, according to reports.
The Ministry also emphasised on non-pharmacological measures like “adequate hydration, rest and supportive measures as first-line of approach”. “All prescribers and dispensers in the field of paediatric care across government and private sector health facilities have been advised to uphold these standards of care. Parents, caretakers of the children and public at large have been advised to strictly adhere to the prescription and advise of the doctors for better safety and wellness of their children,” it added.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) have also advised against prescribing cough syrups, or any combination of drugs, for children less than four years old.
Meanwhile, a special investigation team (SIT) from Madhya Pradesh, assisted by the Chennai police, arrested Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharma Company owner G Ranganathan on Thursday in the case.
States like Kerala, Telangana and West Bengal have issued public alerts and banned the syrup.
