As the weather changes, the incidence of colds and coughs increases. The largest number of them are also children. In such a situation, most doctors recommend taking cough syrup. And many times we buy cough syrup for children ourselves and start giving it to them. But in the African country of The Gambia, the death of more than 60 children from cough syrup has stunned everyone. The fact that the manufacturer of this cough syrup is India is worrying. To which the World Health Organization expressed a strict warning.
If your child also has problems with cough and cold, then you have to be extremely careful. Before buying cough syrup, you need to check the ingredients of the syrup. The recent accident and warnings from the World Health Organization say something similar.
What is the whole thing and the warning of the World Health Organization
In the West African nation of Gambia, more than 60 children died after drinking cough syrup from an Indian pharmaceutical company. Confirming this news, the World Health Organization said that the children’s kidneys were severely affected and they died after drinking the contaminated cold and cough syrup.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that this conclusion was reached after testing several syrups. After that, the WHO issued a warning about the medicinal products and gave a message to remove the products from the market.
Tedros said the UN agency was investigating with Indian regulators and New Delhi-based syrup maker Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
For which products is the warning issued?
The alert includes four products – Promethazine Oral Solution, Cofaxmaline Baby Cough Syrup, Macoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup. All these cough syrups are from Maiden Pharmaceuticals Company only. When the cough syrup was tested in the laboratory, it was found to contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. It can be toxic and cause kidney damage. Medicines prepared in this company are supplied not only in India but also abroad.
What is diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol
It is an organic compound. It is a colorless, odorless liquid with a sweet taste. Miscible with water, alcohol, ether, acetone and ethylene glycol. It is a four-carbon dimer (a structure consisting of two identical or identical units) of ethylene glycol.
It is widely used as a solvent. May contaminate consumer product. Its toxicity also caused many epidemics in the early 20th century. Probably the same thing happened with this cough syrup.
Check the ingredients before taking the syrup
Never take cough syrup without a doctor’s advice. Be sure to check the cough syrup ingredient as recommended by the doctor, as well as the expiration date. Sometimes the seller advises to substitute the medicine when it is not available. In such a situation, go for that option only after consulting a doctor.
Side effects such as vomiting, upset stomach can be common after taking cough syrup, but if you have serious problems after taking cough syrup, contact your doctor immediately.
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