Cases have been detected in several countries. Most of the dead are children under the age of five.
More than 300 a child has recently died due to low-quality cough medicines, said on Monday in its announcement World Health Organization WHO. At the same time, the organization demanded stronger measures from the countries to solve the problem.
In the past four months, cases involving children’s cough medicines have been reported to the WHO from several countries. The medicines have been found or suspected to be of poor quality and contain large amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, says the WHO.
“These pollutants are toxic chemicals used as industrial solvents and anti-freeze agents. They can be life-threatening even in small amounts, and they should never be in medicines,” states the WHO in its announcement.
At least Gambia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan have warned about this. The WHO told the Reuters news agency on Monday that the cough medicine in question may also be on sale in the Philippines, Senegal, East Timor and Cambodia.
Most of the dead are children under the age of five.
Spoiled medicines can cause vomiting, diarrhea and headaches. In the worst case, the drug can cause acute kidney injury, which can lead to death.
WHO gave already October 5th a global warning about four cough medicines suspected of causing the deaths of more than 60 children in The Gambia. Indonesia said at the end of November that the deaths of at least 195 children have been linked to medicines containing harmful substances.
The WHO’s warnings concern cough medicines manufactured by the Indian companies Marion Biotech and Maiden Pharmaceuticals. WHO has also warned about Indonesian cough medicines manufactured by PT Yarindo Farmatama, PT Universal Pharmaceutical, PT Konimex and PT AFI Pharma.
British newspaper of The Guardian according to the companies have either denied being involved in the deaths or refused to comment at this stage.
In its announcement, WHO asks all UN member countries to act.
“As these are not isolated cases, WHO is calling on several key stakeholders in the supply chain of the pharmaceutical industry to take immediate action,” the WHO states.
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