No Cough Syrups for Infants: Govt Advisory After 12 Deaths Reported.

Alarm Over Cough Syrup-Linked Deaths of 12 Children in MP & Rajasthan; Centre Issues Advisory

New Delhi/Bhopal/Jaipur, Oct 4: Alarm bells are ringing in the health sector after the tragic deaths of at least 12 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, reportedly following complications linked to the use of cough syrups. The alarming development has prompted the Union Health Ministry to issue an urgent advisory on Friday, cautioning doctors and caregivers against prescribing or administering cough and cold medications to children below the age of two years.

According to reports, the children had developed severe complications after being given cough syrups for common cold and respiratory issues. Medical experts suggest that ingredients such as antihistamines, decongestants, and certain opioids present in such syrups can have serious side effects in infants, including respiratory depression and organ damage.

The advisory issued by the Centre has directed state health departments to sensitize medical practitioners, pharmacists, and parents about the risks involved. “Cough and cold preparations are not recommended for children under two years. Safe alternatives such as saline drops, steam inhalation, and adequate hydration should be used instead,” the advisory stated.

Health officials in both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are conducting investigations into the exact cause of the deaths and whether there was any lapse in dosage, quality of drugs, or over-the-counter sale without medical supervision.

Pediatric experts have long warned against the indiscriminate use of over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrups for infants, stressing that most common colds in children are self-limiting and do not require such medications. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) has also repeatedly recommended avoiding cough syrups for children below 6 years, unless specifically prescribed by a pediatrician.

The Centre’s intervention comes in the backdrop of previous global concerns over substandard cough syrups linked to child fatalities in countries like Gambia and Uzbekistan, which had put Indian-made formulations under the scanner.

Parents are now being urged to exercise extreme caution and consult qualified doctors before administering any medicine to infants. State health departments in MP and Rajasthan have been asked to launch awareness drives at the community level to prevent further tragedies.