A few days ago we told you about what happened in India, where dozens of children had been hospitalized with serious symptoms and at least 21 of them had lost their lives after taking contaminated cough syrups. This dramatic event has reignited attention on the shortcomings in controls and the safety of medicines intended for children.
Now, given the seriousness of the situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also intervened by issuing an alert on the three medicines involved, the immediate recall of which has also been ordered, underlining the significant risks to public health and inviting citizens and authorities to exercise maximum caution.
The 3 dangerous cough syrups
The medicines reported by WHO are three syrups used to relieve cough, cold and flu symptoms. These are Coldrif, Respifresh TR and ReLife, produced respectively by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals and Shape Pharma.
The WHO specifies in the warning that:
The products identified in this notice are considered substandard as they do not meet their quality standards and specifications.
But what makes these syrups so dangerous? Laboratory analyzes on some samples revealed the presence of diethylene glycol, an industrial solvent that is highly toxic to the kidneys. This compound should never be part of medications, much less those intended for children.
The Indian authorities immediately ordered the withdrawal of the contaminated batches from the market, suspended production and blocked product authorizations. Fortunately, none of these medicines have been exported out of the country, but the WHO calls for strengthened vigilance on unofficial supply chains as well.
Symptoms and health risks
Diethylene glycol can cause serious and life-threatening effects. Among the symptoms reported by the WHO:
The use of these products, especially in children, can therefore have extremely dangerous consequences.
Recommendations for citizens and healthcare professionals
The WHO provides precise guidance to protect patients:
