The World Health Organization issued a global alert regarding four types of cough syrup that may be linked – according to the organization – to the death of 66 children, and these medicines are for Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India. The organization added that these contaminated medicines may have been distributed outside the country, with the possibility of global exposure. The statement added that taking these toxic drugs can be fatal and is associated with acute kidney injuries that may lead to death. It also includes abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to urinate, headaches, and altered mental status.
- An oral syrup called Promethazine.
- Makov cough syrup for children.
- Covexmalin cough syrup for children.
- And Magribe Inn cold drink.
The organization indicated that these drugs should be considered unsafe, until the relevant national regulatory authorities analyze them, warning against their use, because they may threaten those who take them, especially children, with serious injury or death.
Warning from the World Health Organization about dangerous drugs
“So far, the manufacturer has not provided any guarantees to the World Health Organization about the safety and quality of these medicines,” the warning said, adding that laboratory analysis of product samples “confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, The head of the organization, taking these four medicines against cold and cough, is likely to be associated with acute kidney injury, and 66 deaths among children. Last month, the Ministry of Health in The Gambia asked hospitals to stop using paracetamol syrup, pending the outcome of the investigation, after the death of 28 children over least due to renal failure.