Gujarat govt orders recall of two cough syrups following child deaths in MP

Gujarat has woken up after the death of 16 children in Madhya Pradesh after allegedly consuming cough syrups manufactured in Gujarat. State Health Minister Rushikesh Patel ordered the withdrawal of the remaining stock of two cough syrups from MP.

According to the Madhya Pradesh drug department investigation, the two cough syrups found to contain excess diethylene glycol (DEG) are:

• Re-Life Cough Syrup – manufactured by M/s Shape Pharma Pvt Ltd, Surendranagar
• Respifresh TR Cough Syrup – manufactured by M/s Rednex Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, Bavla

Between September 26 and 28, the drug department collected 19 medicine samples from medical stores and hospitals in Chhindwara. 

It was found that a total of 16 children died due to kidney failure in Chhindwara.

Guidelines stipulate that cough syrups should contain no more than 0.1% diethylene glycol, but four syrups failed to meet this standard. Excessive DEG levels can cause kidney failure and brain haemorrhage, both of which are life-threatening conditions.

An investigation by the state’s Food and Drug Department revealed that the cause was two cough syrups manufactured in Gujarat, which contained dangerously high levels of the chemical DEG, far exceeding permissible limits.

Two deaths in Rajasthan

Meanwhile, two children have also died in Rajasthan after consuming cough syrup in the past two weeks.

One case occurred in Sikar, where a 5-year-old boy died just hours after being given cough syrup on Monday. He had a cold, and his parents took him to Chirawa Community Health Center. Around 3 am, he woke up feeling uneasy, and his mother gave him water. 

He fell back asleep but never woke up again. When taken to a government hospital later that day, doctors declared him dead.

In another case, on September 22, a 2-year-old child named Samrat Jadhav died after consuming cough syrup. 

His mother said that Samrat, his sister Sakshi, and cousin Virat all had cold. They were taken to a local health centre, where a cough syrup manufactured by Kesson Pharma was prescribed. 

Around 1.30 pm on September 22, all three children were given the syrup. Five hours later, Sakshi and Virat woke up and vomited, but Samrat never regained consciousness.