Medicine turns poison taking lives of children, death toll raises to 24

At least 20 children have been found dead after consuming the contaminated cough syrup Coldriff as of October 9. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists has forwarded information to pharmaceutical manufacturers and marketing companies following directives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which has ordered that all cough and cold preparations must clearly indicate usage restrictions for children below four years of age on their labels.

Coldriff was manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, based in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The probe revealed that the syrup contained 48% of the toxic chemical diethylene glycol, while the permissible limit set by both India and the WHO is only 0.1%. In a recent development, the owner of the company has been arrested.

The sweet and colorful syrup, given by parents to their children for relief from coughs and colds, has turned into poison, claiming numerous lives. The syrup acted like a bullet, causing kidney failure and brain damage. Among the affected regions, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have reported the highest number of cases, while other states remain in deep fear. The Central team from the National Centre for Disease Control has collected samples from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district as part of the investigation. Rajasthan, meanwhile, has halted the distribution of all dextromethorphan syrups across the state.

While the probe continues, parents are struggling to find treatment for their children and are uncertain about whom to trust. Pediatricians are advising the use of home remedies for mild symptoms. At this stage, it is crucial and should be made mandatory for drug manufacturers to renew their licenses only after a strict compliance audit. Regular surprise inspections and sampling from markets, hospitals, and supply chains are also essential to prevent such tragedies in the future.