- Madhya Pradesh samples tested clear of contamination
- Tamil Nadu unit’s Coldrif syrup found with dangerous DEG levels
- Product banned in both states, Centre orders 19-unit inspections
- Expert teams probing Chhindwara child deaths
- WHO links DEG-contaminated syrups to 300+ child deaths since 2022
GG News Bureau
Chennai, 4th Oct: The Health Ministry has confirmed that while cough syrup samples from Madhya Pradesh tested negative for contamination, a batch of Coldrif cough syrup manufactured in Tamil Nadu contained diethylene glycol (DEG) beyond permissible limits.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had collected six samples from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara, all of which tested clear of DEG and ethylene glycol (EG). Similarly, the state drug regulator found no contamination in three of the 13 samples it tested.
However, following a request from the Madhya Pradesh government, the Tamil Nadu FDA collected Coldrif samples directly from its manufacturer, Sresan Pharma in Kanchipuram. The tests, completed on October 3, revealed contamination above safety limits. Both Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have now banned the product.
The Centre has ordered risk-based inspections at 19 drug manufacturing units across six states to identify lapses in quality control. Meanwhile, a multidisciplinary team comprising experts from NIV, ICMR, NEERI, CDSCO, and AIIMS Nagpur is investigating the child deaths reported in and around Chhindwara.
Why DEG and EG Are Deadly
Diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG) are industrial chemicals used in antifreeze, brake fluids, plastics, and paints – not in medicines. Contamination often occurs when pharmaceutical suppliers use cheaper industrial-grade raw materials such as glycerine, bypassing strict lab checks.
When consumed, these chemicals are metabolised into toxic compounds that damage the kidneys, liver, and nervous system. Children are especially vulnerable, with even small doses proving fatal. Early symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, and reduced urination, quickly escalating to acute kidney failure, seizures, and death.
Past Global Tragedies
The contamination discovery in Tamil Nadu raises alarm given past incidents. In Gambia (2022), at least 70 children died after consuming tainted cough syrups. Since then, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has linked such syrups to more than 300 child deaths worldwide.
WHO has issued global warnings, urging governments to strengthen surveillance, recall substandard medicines, and enforce strict testing. It has also introduced a two-tier testing protocol – thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for initial screening and gas chromatography for confirmation.
Regulators are now expected to recall Coldrif batches and investigate Sresan Pharma for safety violations.
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