Indian Cough Syrup caused death of 66 children in Gambia
A global warning was issued for four cough syrups after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned they could be linked to the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia.
The syrups were “likely linked to acute kidney injury and 66 deaths among children,” he said.
The products were manufactured by an Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, which had not provided any guarantees as to their safety, the WHO added. The company has not yet responded.
The WHO identified the drugs as Promethazine oral solution, Kofexmalin baby cough syrup, Makoff baby cough syrup and Magrip N cold syrup.
The four products had been identified in The Gambia but “may have been distributed in other countries or regions through informal markets”, the WHO added in the alert posted on its website. It warns that their use can result in serious injury or death, especially to children.
The WHO intervention comes after medical authorities in The Gambia – a popular tourist destination – noticed an increase in cases of acute kidney injury in children under five in late July.
The Gambian government has since suspended the use of all paracetamol syrups and urged people to use tablets instead. The WHO said laboratory analysis of product samples “confirms that they contain unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as impurities”.
The substances are toxic and their effects “may include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to urinate, headache, altered mental status, and acute kidney injury, which may result in death”, she added.
Indian Cough Syrup caused death of 66 children in Gambia
Gambian health authorities said last month that dozens of children had died, without giving an exact figure.
WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Wednesday: “The loss of these young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families.”
