The usage of two cough syrups made in India has been advised against by the World Health Organization (WHO) following the deaths of at least 20 children in Uzbekistan.
The two products, AMBRONOL and DOK-1 Max, produced by the Indian company Marion Biotech, according to the UN agency, were “substandard” and failed to meet the quality standards.
After consuming a cough syrup with the brand name Doc-1 Max in Uzbekistan last month, at least 20 children died, prompting the issue of the alert.
In response, the Uzbek government outlawed the import and sale of Doc-1 Max, and the Indian Ministry of Health shut down the company’s production. An investigation into the Uzbekistan fatalities has also been opened in India.
The WHO further noted that laboratory analysis of samples of AMBRONOL syrup and DOK-1 Max syrup “found both products contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and /or ethylene glycol as contaminants” in both products, which are toxic to people, especially children, and may be fatal.
In October, the WHO issued another alert on Maiden Pharmaceuticals, a different Indian pharmaceutical company that may be responsible for 66 deaths, mostly of children in The Gambia.
According to the WHO, lab testing revealed “unacceptable” levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
India opened an investigation on Maiden Pharmaceuticals, but later claimed the results showed the suspect medications were of “standard quality.”
In a similar vein, the Indonesian government outlawed the prescription and over-the-counter sale of any syrup or liquid medication in response to the deaths of over 100 children in the country from acute kidney injury (AKI) this year, which was connected to dangerous ingredients in medicinal syrups.
The number of infants dying from AKI has increased unexplainably since January 2022, according to Indonesian health authorities, who stated they are looking into the matter.
cough syrups
Author-Roberta Appiah
