WHO has transmitted a global alert for three cough syrups contaminated with toxic substances causing deaths in children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an international alert on three contaminated cough syrups, produced in India, asking for sanitary authorities around the world to report any detection of these drugs.

Photo cough syrup: Shuterstock

According to WHO, it is about certain teams of Coldrif, Respifresh TR and Relife, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals and Shape Pharma. The organization warns that these products present significant risks to patients, and can cause serious, even lethal diseases.

The medical specialists are advised to report to the national regulatory authorities or the national pharmacovigilance centers any detection of the drugs that do not meet the standards, as well as the possible associated adverse effects or the lack of the expected therapeutic effect, according to Agerpres.

In the Indian state Tamil Nadu, the authorities revoked the production license of Sresan Pharmaceutical, responsible for Coldrif, and ordered the factory to close after it was found that the cough syrup was contaminated over 45% with dietilenglicol, a toxic industrial solvent.

Cough syrups caused the deaths of 27 children in India

Only in the state of Madhya Pradesh, in the center of India, were confirmed 24 deaths associated with the consumption of Coldrif, and in Rajasthan another three cases were reported.

Most victims are children under five years, who have developed severe complications, including renal failure, following the administration of the drug in the last month.

WHO emphasizes the need for a “rigorous monitoring and warns that the risk of intoxication remains high, recommending the population to avoid these products until the situation is clarified. ”