Health
Cough syrup banned in Indonesia, 130 children killed
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Indonesia, October 28, 2022 – One hundred and thirty more children are dead after being sickened by cough syrup, this time in Indonesia, prompting the country to ban them completely.
The decision comes weeks after the death toll in The Gambia hit 70 children, all of whom died after taking Indian cough syrup and a rapid alert was issued by the World Health Organization.
The WHO Medical Product Alert was issued on for four cough syrups (Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup) because of what the organization described as
According to Health officials who spoke to Reuters the cough syrups in Indonesia had the same contaminants but the cough syrups were not from the same company that supplied The Gambia (Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited in Haryana, India.)
The contaminants cause Acute Kidney Injury which according to the US National Health Service, is usually seen in older people who are unwell with other conditions.
Children in The Gambia reported not being able to pass urine before they died. Other symptoms that parents should watch out for include:
- feeling sick or being sick
- diarrhoea
- dehydration
- peeing less than usual
- confusion
- drowsiness
Without quick treatment, usually dialysis, abnormal levels of salts and chemicals can build up in the body, affecting all organs.