The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) recently issued an advisory concerning the administration of cough syrups to children. This guidance explicitly states that cough and cold medications should not be given to children under two years old and are generally not recommended for those under five years of age.
The advisory’s release follows reports of 11 child deaths allegedly linked to the consumption of contaminated cough syrups. For children aged five and above, the DGHS recommends that any use be preceded by careful clinical evaluation, accompanied by close supervision, strict adherence to appropriate dosing, the shortest effective duration, and the avoidance of multiple drug combinations. The public is also encouraged to strictly adhere to doctors’ prescriptions. In parallel, the health ministry has launched an investigation into the reported child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, involving tests and a joint team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Institute of Virology (NIV), and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/after-11-child-deaths-dghs-warns-cough-syrups-unsafe-for-kids-under-2-risky-below-5-11759495641566.html