Two cough syrups banned after six children die of kidney failure in 15 days

BHOPAL: Six children have died of kidney failure in the last 15 days. The tragic incident was reported in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara. The children, all under the age of five, had first complained of mild fever. Local doctors prescribed routine medication, including cough syrups, after which the children seemed to recover. However, the police suspect that the deaths were caused by the presence of diethylene glycol contamination. All the children dead were below the age of five. The first case was reported on August 24 and the first death on September 7.

All the children dead initially had fever and drank medicine and cough syrup prescribed by the doctor. Most of them were administered Coldrif and Nextro-DS syrups. After this, the disease subsided. But after a few days, the fever returned and there was a decrease in urine output. Later, an infection developed in the kidneys. Three of the children were taken to Nagpur for specialist treatment, but did not yield any results. The parents said that the children had no previous illnesses.

The breakthrough came after kidney biopsies revealed the presence of a toxic chemical called diethylene glycol, which is linked to pharmaceutical poisoning.

Following the outcry, Chhindwara Collector Sheelendra Singh banned the sale of both syrups across the district and issued an emergency directive to doctors, pharmacies and parents. The biopsy report indicated that the syrup was the cause of the kidney failure. No infection was found in water samples from the area. Therefore, the collector said that the link between the drug and the death of the children cannot be ruled out. A team from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been deputed to investigate the incident.

A two-member team from the Bhopal health department has also begun its investigation. Officials are interviewing families and collecting samples of the drugs.