Tamil Nadu bans THIS cough syrup after child deaths in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, brand is…

Cough Syrup Deaths: Tests of cough syrups linked to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have found no toxic chemicals (DEG/EG). However, the investigation is ongoing and other possible causes are being investigated. The Center has advised caution when administering cough syrups to children.

Written by: Nivedita Dash Edited by: Nivedita Dash

Updated: October 4, 2025, 11:28 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-bans-coldrif-cough-syrup-after-child-deaths-in-madhya-pradesh-rajasthan-brand-is-8113048/ Copy

Tamil Nadu bans THIS cough syrup after child deaths in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, brand is...

The central government has raised serious concerns about the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. These deaths were suspected to be linked to cough syrups . Central and state agencies have jointly conducted a major investigation to thoroughly investigate the matter. This joint investigation has revealed an important finding:

investigators have confirmed that the suspected cough syrups did not contain any toxic chemicals. The investigation did not detect dangerous ingredients such as diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol (EG), which can cause serious kidney damage. However, the investigation is not yet complete and other possible causes are being investigated. In the meantime, the central government has advised caution when administering cough syrups to children.

The government has stated that the indiscriminate use of cough syrups in children can be dangerous. Keeping this in mind, the DGHS (Director General of Police) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory to all states and union territories, advising them to administer cough syrups to children with caution and care.

What came out in the investigation?

• Teams from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Institute of Virology (NIV), and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) investigated the case. With the help of state officials, they collected several samples, including cough syrups from various companies.
• According to the test report, none of the samples contained DEG or EG. The Madhya Pradesh State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) also tested three samples and confirmed this.
  In the case of Madhya Pradesh, blood and CSF samples from children were also tested at NIV Pune. One child tested positive for leptospirosis. Additionally, water samples, mosquito-borne vectors (such as mosquitoes), and respiratory samples are still being tested. All these aspects are being closely monitored.
• Two child deaths in Rajasthan were also linked to cough medicine. However, investigations have revealed that the medicine in question did not contain propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is considered a potential source of toxic adulterants such as DEG or EG. It has also been revealed that the medicine in question in Rajasthan was dextromethorphan-based. This medicine is not recommended for children.
• The entire investigation team, comprised of the NCDC, NIV, ICMR, AIIMS Nagpur, and state health officials, is thoroughly investigating all possible causes to uncover the truth.