The World Health Organization (WHO) said on 5 October that contaminated cough and cold syrups produced by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals may be responsible for the kidney damage that caused the death of several children in The Gambia.
Calls and messages from Reuters to the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) did not elicit any response, while Maiden Pharma declined to comment on the news. A call for a response from The Gambia and the Indian Ministry of Health also remained unanswered.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, an investigation is being conducted by the UN agency. WHO also requested that Maiden Pharma products be removed from the market in the Medical Product Alert.
Many children in the small country of West Africa began to develop kidney problems three to five days after consuming locally sold paracetamol syrup. Tnen, medical professionals sounded the alarm in July. By August 28 people had died, but health officials predicted the number would rise. According to the WHO, now 66 people have died.
Read also: ‘Don’t use them’: WHO investigating Indian cough syrup after death of 66 children
Four products are under investigation: Promethazine Oral Solution, Cofaxmaline Baby Cough Syrup, Macoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup. The WHO said in its advisory that, although the items may have been sold through informal markets in other countries, they were only discovered in The Gambia.
Laboratory testing revealed “unacceptable” concentrations of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which the WHO warned are dangerous if swallowed. Due to an increase in cases of acute kidney injury among children under five in late July, the government of The Gambia announced in September that it was also investigating the deaths.
Read also: WHO has issued an alert for 4 India-made cough syrups. Check Symptoms, Other Details
The deaths have stunned The Gambia, which already faces several medical crises such as measles and malaria. Maiden Pharma produces drugs at its facilities in India, sells them domestically, and exports them to countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
what are its dangers?
According to the WHO, when ingested by humans, diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic and can be fatal. toxic consequences. It also includes abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to urinate, headache, altered mental status and severe kidney injury—which can result in death.
All batches of these products should be considered hazardous until they can be tested by the appropriate national regulatory authorities. The dangerous goods mentioned in this alert can cause significant harm or death, especially if used by youth.
WHO’s advice to the public
“Please do not use them,” the WHO said in a statement. People are urged to seek immediate medical advice from a licensed healthcare provider if they or someone they know has used these items or has had any negative side effects.
“To prevent harm to patients, it is important to detect and remove these substandard products from circulation,” the WHO said.
Read also: Government plans to ban codeine based cough syrup in protest against drug makers
WHO calls for more careful monitoring and monitoring of supply chains in the countries and regions most likely to be affected by these items. It is also suggested to keep a close watch on the informal or unregulated market.
All medical supplies must be authorized and purchased from licensed vendors. Carefully check the physical integrity and genuineness of the products. When in doubt, consult a health practitioner.
(with agency input)
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