Nine Child Deaths Prompt Advisory on Cough Syrup Use for Children
New Delhi, 4th October 2025: The Union Health Ministry has issued a cautionary advisory on the use of cough syrups for children following recent child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, though no kidney-toxic chemicals were found in the tested samples.
Authorities including the National Center for Disease Control, the National Institute of Virology, and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization confirmed that the collected cough syrup samples did not contain diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol. State-level tests also confirmed the absence of these contaminants.
Highlighting the advisory, the Director General of Health Services stressed that cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under two years of age and are generally unsuitable for children under five. Most cases of cough in children are self-limiting and can resolve with proper care, hydration, and rest.
The Ministry’s key recommendations for parents and healthcare providers include:
Limit the use of cough syrups for children.
Avoid decongestant medicines in children under two years.
Consult a doctor before administering medicines to children under five.
Doctors should first recommend non-drug measures such as fluids, proper care, steam inhalation, and warm water.
Educate parents on safe medicine use and ensure adherence to good manufacturing practices by pharmaceutical companies.
The advisory comes after nine children in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, and three in Rajasthan died following kidney failure, raising concerns over the use of certain cough syrups. While initial reports had suggested contamination, investigations have clarified that the syrups tested were free of toxic chemicals.
Parents are urged to prioritize hydration, rest, and attentive care over medication for young children and follow the Health Ministry’s guidelines strictly to prevent risks associated with inappropriate cough syrup use.
