WHO warns of contaminated cold, cough syrups linked to child deaths in India

By Chioma Obinna

The World Health Organisation, WHO, has issued an urgent planetary alert pursuing the find of substandard and contaminated oral liquid medicines successful India, linked to cases of acute unwellness and kid fatalities.

The warning, outlined successful WHO Medical Product Alert No. 5/2025, highlighted 3 contaminated products COLDRIF, Respifresh TR, and ReLife each commonly utilized to dainty symptoms of the communal cold, flu, oregon cough. The products were recovered to incorporate Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a highly toxic substance that tin origin superior and perchance fatal wellness effects, particularly successful children.

The alert follows a study received by WHO connected 8 October 2025 from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), confirming DEG contamination successful astatine slightest 3 batches of oral syrups manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma.

The contented came to airy aft clusters of acute unwellness and kid deaths were reported successful parts of India, prompting WHO to initiate an probe successful precocious September.

According to CDSCO, the contaminated syrups were consumed by respective of the affected children.

In response, Indian authorities person halted accumulation astatine the implicated manufacturing sites, suspended merchandise licenses, and initiated merchandise recalls crossed the country.

While authorities corroborate that determination is nary grounds of exportation of the contaminated medicines from India, WHO has urged regulatory bodies worldwide to stay vigilant, particularly successful monitoring informal oregon unregulated proviso chains wherever unsafe products tin circulate undetected.

Diethylene Glycol is simply a chemic utilized successful concern products specified arsenic antifreeze and brake fluid. When ingested, it tin origin terrible symptoms including: Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to walk urine, headache and confusion, acute kidney injury, which tin pb to death.

WHO warns that adjacent tiny amounts of DEG successful medicines tin beryllium lethal, particularly for children, and stresses the request for contiguous enactment to forestall further tragedies.

WHO advises that anyone successful possession of the affected products should halt utilizing them immediately. Health-care professionals and the nationalist are urged to study immoderate adverse reactions oregon suspected cases of product-related harm to nationalist wellness authorities.

Governments, regulatory agencies, and instrumentality enforcement are besides encouraged to tighten surveillance, peculiarly successful regions wherever akin products whitethorn person been distributed.

“All aesculapian products indispensable beryllium obtained from authorized oregon licensed suppliers,” the WHO reiterated, urging consumers to beryllium cautious erstwhile purchasing over-the-counter syrups oregon medicines, particularly successful markets wherever regulatory enforcement is weak.

WHO is moving intimately with Indian wellness authorities to hint the root of contamination, show the grade of the spread, and mitigate nationalist wellness risks.

WHO said it volition supply further updates and continues to promote each subordinate states to heighten pharmacovigilance systems, peculiarly for pediatric medicines.

The station WHO warns of contaminated cold, cough syrups linked to kid deaths successful India appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.