Health Ministry rules out contaminated cough syrups as cause of child deaths in Rajasthan, MP; issues advisory for rational use

The Union Health Ministry has found no evidence to suggest that the consumption of contaminated cough syrups was the cause of the recent deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. However, the Directorate General of Health Services, under the Ministry, has issued an advisory to all state and UT Health Departments to ensure the rational use of cough syrups in children.

The Centre had dispatched a joint team consisting of representatives from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Institute of Virology (NIV), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), etc, to the site in Madhya Pradesh after recent media reports alleged contaminated cough syrups to be the cause of deaths. Various samples were collected and tested in coordination with state authorities, including samples of various cough syrups. However, none of the samples contained Diethylene Glycol (DEG) or Ethylene Glycol (EG), contaminants that are known to cause serious kidney injury, the ministry has clarified.

The Madhya Pradesh State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) had also tested three samples and confirmed the absence of DEG/EG. The ministry stated that NIV Pune has tested further blood/CSF samples for common pathogens, and one case is positive for Leptospirosis. Samples of water, entomological vectors, and respiratory specimens are being further investigated by NEERI, NIV Pune, and other laboratories, the ministry said, adding that a multidisciplinary team comprising experts from NCDC, NIV, ICMR, AIIMS Nagpur, and state health authorities is investigating all possible causes behind the reported cases.

In the case of Rajasthan, in response to reports of two child deaths due to contaminated cough syrup consumption, the Health Ministry stated that the product in question does not contain Propylene Glycol, which can be a potential source of contaminants, including DEG/EG. Additionally, the product under reference is a dextromethorphan-based formulation, which is not recommended for paediatric use, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) has today issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories on the rational use of cough syrups in the paediatric population. “Cold and cough medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children under two years. These are not generally recommended for children under five years, and above that any use should follow careful clinical evaluation with close supervision and strict adherence to appropriate dosing”, the advisory said.