On Tuesday, Uzbekistan’s health ministry confirmed 18 fatalities of children with acute respiratory disease who ingested an excessive amount of Doc-1 Max cough syrup. Marion Biotech, an Indian pharmaceutical company, makes this cough medicine. Ethylene glycol, a dangerous chemical that shouldn’t be included in cough syrup, is allegedly found in syrup.
According to the ministry, 18 out of the 21 youngsters who swallowed the syrup died. On the company’s website, it is touted as a remedy for cold and flu symptoms. The syrup is made by a pharmaceutical company based in Noida and imported into Uzbekistan by Quramax Medical LLC.
Prior to being admitted to the hospital, it was discovered that the deceased youngsters had used the drug at home. They ingested 2.5–5 ml of the syrup, 3–4 times over the course of 2–7 days, which is more than the recommended dose for a child.
The syrup’s main ingredient is paracetamol. On the advice of drugstore vendors, the parents utilized Doc-1 Max syrup wrongly as an anti-cold medication. Paracetamol should only be used at a body temperature of 38-38.5 °C. It should be taken 100-125 mg for infants under 1 year old, 200 mg for kids 1-3 years old, and 250 mg for kids 3-5 years old, 1-2 times a day. Consuming the drug at normal body temperature is strictly prohibited.
According to the Ministry, early laboratory tests have revealed that the syrup contains ethylene glycol. 1-2 ml/kg of this toxic chemical in a 95% concentrated solution can lead to major health concerns such as fainting, vomiting, cardiovascular disorders, and acute kidney failure.
Officials from the Indian health ministry are aware of the Uzbek claim, but they haven’t responded. Prior to now, The Gambia halted Maiden Pharma’s export license in response to the WHO’s warning. 66 kids’ deaths were attributed to Maiden Pharma’s cough syrup.
