WHO claims that 66 children died in Gambia after drinking cold-cough syrup made in India, warning issued
In the West African country of Gambia, 66 children have died after drinking a decongestant and cough syrup made by an Indian pharmaceutical company. Along with making this claim, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning not to use these syrups. Here, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization in Delhi has ordered an inquiry into the matter. These cough syrups are made in a company in Haryana. Their consumption has claimed the death of children on a large scale in The Gambia. The WHO said in a report released on Wednesday that the cough medicine diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are like poison to humans. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the deaths of the children were related to four drugs. His kidneys were damaged by the consumption of these syrups.
"WHO has today issued a medical product alert for four contaminated medicines identified in #Gambia that have been potentially linked with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children. The loss of these young lives is beyond heartbreaking for their families"-@DrTedros
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 5, 2022
WHO is investigating these drugs with the pharmaceutical company and the regulatory authorities of the Government of India for this. So far, four cough medicines have been identified as the cause of death. For this, a warning has also been issued to other countries of the world. These second-grade products are unsafe and can cause death, especially in children. WHO has warned all countries to remove these drugs from the market. He himself has said to keep an eye on the supply chain of these countries and the respective region. Following the WHO’s warning, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization has issued orders for an immediate investigation.
These are the toxic effects of the syrup
The toxic effects of such cough syrups include abdominal pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty urinating, changes in mental status and severe kidney damage. These can lead to death.
