11 Child Deaths Spark Govt Ban on Syrup For Infants
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Oct 03, 2025
- 393
The Union Health Ministry on Friday issued a nationwide advisory cautioning against the use of cough syrups in children below two years of age. The move follows the deaths of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, reportedly linked to cough syrup consumption.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) further advised that cough syrups should generally not be given to children under five years, and if prescribed for older children, they must be administered with caution—at the lowest possible dose, for the shortest duration, and without mixing with multiple medications.
Dr. Sunita Sharma of the DGHS, who issued the advisory, stressed that “children receiving cough syrups should be closely monitored and only safe, pharmaceutical-grade medicines should be procured.” All government-run medical stores, health centers, and hospitals have been directed to follow this guideline.
No Toxic Chemicals Found in Syrups
Addressing public concerns, the ministry clarified that no kidney-damaging toxic substances such as diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol were detected in syrup samples linked to the child deaths. Tests were carried out by the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Institute of Virology (NIV), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), and state drug administrations.
The Madhya Pradesh FDA also confirmed that three cough syrup samples were free from harmful chemicals, while NIV Pune reported that one case was instead linked to leptospirosis infection.
The ministry reiterated that while no contamination was found, inappropriate or excessive use of cough syrups in young children remains a significant health risk.