The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified three adulterated cough syrups manufactured in India, including the Coldrif cough syrup. It has warned that the identified syrups could cause severe and potentially life-threatening illnesses.
The Organisation has urged authorities worldwide to report to the agency if any of these products are detected in their countries. The Organisation said that such medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children below two years of age and are generally not recommended for those under five.
The global health body has identified specific batches of Coldrif from Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife from Shape Pharma as the affected medicines. Several children died in Madhya Pradesh a week ago, linked to the consumption of Coldrif cough syrup.
This prompted the Central government to issue an advisory to all states and union territories, urging extreme caution in the prescription of cough syrups for children. The Coldrif syrup, manufactured in Tamil Nadu, was found to be dangerously contaminated with the toxic chemical diethylene glycol. Following this, Sresan Pharmaceuticals had its manufacturing license revoked, and its owner, G. Ranganathan, was arrested.
