In a crucial move aimed at safeguarding child health, Telangana’s Directorate of Public Health and Family Welfare has released an advisory advocating for the rational and cautious use of cough syrups in children. This directive aligns with national guidelines from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and comes in response to disturbing reports of child fatalities in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, allegedly linked to tainted cough syrup consumption.
Public Alert Issued by DCA
Just days prior, the Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) had already issued an urgent public alert. They advised citizens to immediately cease using ‘Coldrif Syrup,’ specifically batch number SR-13, manufactured by Sresan Pharma in Sunguvarchathiram, Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. This specific batch was found to be dangerously adulterated with Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a highly toxic substance. The affected syrup carries a manufacturing date of May 2025 and an expiry date of April 2027.
Report Contaminated Syrups via Toll-Free Number
Reinforcing these concerns, the Directorate of Public Health’s latest advisory, dated October 5 and referencing the DGHS, strongly urges anyone in possession of the suspect syrup to report it without delay. Citizens can contact their local drug control authorities by calling the toll-free number 1800-599-6969.
The advisory also underscores the paramount importance of rational drug use and patient safety in pediatric care. It clarifies that most acute cough illnesses in children are typically self-limiting, meaning they often resolve naturally without the need for medication.
Crucially, it mandates that cough and cold medications should never be prescribed or given to children under two years of age. Furthermore, these medicines are generally not recommended for children under five. For older children, their use should only occur after a thorough clinical evaluation, under close medical supervision, and strictly adhering to the proper dosage for the shortest effective duration. The advisory also warns against using multiple drug combinations and stresses the importance of the public strictly following doctors’ prescriptions.
Embracing Non-Pharmacological Approaches for Children’s Cough and Cold
Promoting safer alternatives, the advisory highlights non-pharmacological interventions as the primary approach for managing cough and cold in children. It recommends adequate hydration, plenty of rest, and other supportive measures as the first line of treatment. All healthcare facilities and clinical establishments, both public and private, are now directed to ensure that all medicines procured and dispensed are manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and contain pharmaceutical-grade excipients. Prescribers and dispensers are urged to uphold these critical standards of care.
District Medical and Health Officers (DMHOs) across Telangana have received explicit instructions to implement and widely share this vital advisory throughout all government and private healthcare institutions.