The state of Maharashtra is currently grappling with a severe public health crisis as fourteen children from the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh are fighting for their lives in Nagpur hospitals after consuming a banned cough syrup. The incident has sparked widespread concern and triggered a series of investigations and bans across multiple states in India.
The affected children, all hailing from Madhya Pradesh, were administered Coldrif cough syrup, which has now been identified as the source of the poisoning. Preliminary investigations suggest that the children, who initially presented with mild fevers, colds, and coughs, experienced a rapid deterioration in their condition after consuming the syrup. Families reported that many of the children fell unconscious within 24 hours of hospitalization. The primary cause has been linked to kidney failure and neurological symptoms.
The gravity of the situation came to light after several children in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan died, prompting a national investigation. Health authorities discovered a common link: Coldrif cough syrup. Samples of the syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharma in Tamil Nadu, were found to contain a staggering 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG), far exceeding permissible limits. DEG is a toxic substance used in industrial solvents and can be fatal even in small amounts. It can cause acute kidney and liver failure, making the medicine unsafe for human consumption.
In response to the crisis, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have banned the sale and distribution of Coldrif cough syrup. The state drug controller has ordered an immediate halt to the sale, distribution, and disposal of the syrup, with all available stocks to be sealed. Authorities have been instructed to collect additional samples of the syrup from across the state and send them to government testing laboratories for analysis.
The Tamil Nadu government was among the first to ban Coldrif, prohibiting its sale from October 1st. This decision followed suspicions linking the syrup to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The state has also ordered the removal of the syrup from the market.
The incident has triggered a blame game, with senior Congress leader Kamal Nath alleging the mixing of 'brake oil solvent' in the cough syrups. Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government has filed a case against Srisan Pharmaceuticals, the company that manufactured the Coldrif syrup. A doctor who prescribed the deadly cough syrup to children in Madhya Pradesh has been arrested.
Health experts emphasize that cough syrups should not be prescribed to children aged less than six years. They caution that young children's bodies and developing organs are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of substances like DEG.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the full extent of the contamination and prevent further tragedies. The focus remains on providing the best possible care for the critically ill children and ensuring the safety of pharmaceutical products available to the public.
