Excessive Levels of Automobile Antifreeze Ingredient Detected
In India, an incident occurred in which 11 children died after consuming cough syrup.
Cough syrup "Coldreep" from an Indian pharmaceutical company was found to contain diethylene glycol (DEG). Recently, 11 children in India died after taking this cough syrup. Photo by NDTV
On October 5, local media outlets such as NDTV and The Times of India reported that health authorities have launched an investigation after reports emerged linking the deaths of nine infants and children in Madhya Pradesh in central India and two in Rajasthan in the west to the cough syrup they had taken.
All of the deceased children were under the age of five and exhibited symptoms of acute kidney injury after consuming the problematic cough syrup. Investigations revealed that the cough syrup in question was "Coldreep," a product manufactured by Suresan Pharma, a pharmaceutical company based in Tamil Nadu in southern India. Tests found that the syrup contained diethylene glycol (DEG) at levels exceeding the permissible limit. The governments of Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have banned the sale of Coldreep cough syrup.
DEG is an industrial solvent used in products such as automotive antifreeze, paint, brake fluid, and plastics manufacturing. Its use in pharmaceuticals is strictly prohibited, but some pharmaceutical companies are known to use DEG as a cheaper substitute for glycerin, which is the solvent in syrups. Ingesting DEG in amounts exceeding the allowable limit can result in death from acute kidney injury, as seen in this case.
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has conducted inspections of 19 pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities to identify quality control lapses and has recommended measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned about the dangers of cough syrup contaminated with DEG and similar substances such as ethylene glycol (EG). Children are particularly vulnerable due to their smaller body size, and even a small amount can be fatal. Initial symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, and reduced urination, which can quickly progress to acute renal failure, seizures, and death in severe cases.
Previously, in 2022, at least 69 children died in The Gambia in West Africa after consuming cough syrup produced by an Indian pharmaceutical company, and in 2023, 19 children died in Uzbekistan after taking Indian-made cough syrup.
In response, the WHO warned that more than 300 children in seven countries have died from Indian- and Indonesian-made cough syrups containing excessive amounts of DEG and other toxic substances, urging member states to strengthen monitoring throughout the manufacturing and distribution process. The Indian government has also mandated that an official certificate confirming the results of ingredient testing from a government laboratory must be obtained before exporting cough syrup.
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