New Delhi / Bhopal: A deeply concerning health crisis has emerged after at least nine children died in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, with the deaths being linked to the consumption of a common cough syrup. The children, mostly under the age of five, suffered from acute kidney failure over the past fortnight.
The tragedy has prompted urgent action from both state and central authorities. Health officials initially focused their investigation on two cough syrups, Coldrif and Nextro DS, which many of the deceased children had been given for cold and fever symptoms. The sale and distribution of these specific syrups have been immediately stopped across the region while further tests are carried out.
The Investigation and Conflicting Findings
Initial concerns suggested that the syrups might be contaminated with deadly chemicals like Diethylene Glycol (DEG) or Ethylene Glycol (EG)—substances known to cause severe kidney damage and death, and which have been linked to similar global incidents involving Indian-made medicines in the past.
However, the Union Health Ministry provided an update saying that early testing by Central agencies on the syrup samples did not find these dangerous chemicals (DEG or EG). This has broadened the probe to look at other possible causes, including infectious diseases or other unknown toxins.
A senior paediatrician, Dr. Pawan Nandurkar, confirmed the difficulty of the situation, stating, “The deaths and the kidney injury case are linked to the cough syrup called Coldrif, which everyone is blaming. However, investigations are still ongoing, and it's possible that the kidney injury was caused by something else altogether.”
Government Advisory Issued
Following the incident, the Centre has issued a strong advisory to all states and union territories regarding the use of cough syrups. The advisory reminds doctors and parents about the global recommendation that dextromethorphan-based syrups, like the one involved, are often not recommended for young children due to potential risks.
A multi-disciplinary team of experts, including those from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), is working on the ground to investigate all possibilities—ranging from the cough syrup quality to local water and environmental factors. The final cause of death for the children is expected only after all laboratory test reports are received.
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