Geneva [Switzerland], October 14 (ANI): The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a medical product alert concerning three adulterated cough syrups manufactured in India, cautioning that their consumption may lead to severe and potentially life-threatening illnesses, including fatalities in children.
The WHO identified the affected syrups—ColdRif from Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Respifresh TR from Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and ReLife from Shape Pharma—as substandard, failing to meet required quality standards. These medicines, commonly used to treat cold, flu, and cough symptoms, have been linked to serious adverse events in children. Authorities worldwide have been urged to report any detection of these products in their markets.
The alert follows reports from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) of diethylene glycol (DEG) contamination in the identified products. DEG is toxic to humans and can be fatal, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, altered mental state, acute kidney injury, and, in severe cases, death. The contamination was linked to recent child fatalities in Madhya Pradesh after consuming ColdRif syrup.
In response, the Government of India revoked the manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, and the company owner, G. Ranganathan, was taken into custody. Production at the implicated manufacturing sites has been immediately halted, product authorisations suspended, and a recall initiated by state authorities. The CDSCO confirmed that none of the contaminated syrups have been exported from India, and there is no current evidence of illegal export.
WHO advised that the syrups should not be prescribed or dispensed to children under two years and generally not to those under five. National Regulatory Authorities are encouraged to conduct targeted market surveillance, particularly in informal and unregulated supply chains, and to review risks associated with oral liquid medicines produced at the same sites since December 2024.
WHO continues to work closely with Indian health authorities to identify the source of contamination and mitigate potential public health risks.
This alert underscores the critical need for vigilance in medicine quality control and global collaboration to prevent further child fatalities. (ANI)
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