A cough syrup made in India has been found to contain harmful chemicals, according to the World Health Organisation. The syrup was sold in the Pacific islands of Marshall and Micronesia by a company based in Haryana, India. The WHO said that the substances diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol were present in “unacceptable amounts” and could prove fatal if consumed. The syrup’s manufacturer is QP PharmaChem Ltd in Punjab. A representative of the company said it had never exported the product to the Marshall Islands or Micronesia and that it had been sold in Cambodia three years ago.
The WHO warned that the product could have been marketed in other countries and through informal networks. It added that its use, especially by children, could result in serious injury or death. Symptoms of toxic exposure include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, headache and acute kidney injury.
The syrup contains guaifenesin, an expectorant used to relieve chest congestion and cough. Samples from the Marshall Islands were analysed by the Therapeutics Goods Administration of Australia, which found the two contaminants. Neither the manufacturer nor the marketer of the product has provided any guarantees to the WHO regarding its safety or quality.
