THE Ministry of Health is advising of an international alert regarding contaminated cough syrups linked to multiple child fatalities.
In a media release on Tuesday, the Ministry, through its Chemistry Food and Drugs Division, stated the World Health Organization had identified Diethylene Glycol (DEG) in three oral liquid medications used to treat the symptoms of the cold and flu in India.
DEG, the Ministry explained, was toxic to humans when consumed and could have severe, life-threatening effects.
Toxic effects of DEG included abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury that may lead to death.
The contaminated oral liquid medicines have been identified as the following:
| Product Name | Manufacturer |
| Coldrif | Sresan Pharmaceuticals |
| Respifresh TR | Rednex Pharmaceuticals |
| ReLife | Shape Pharma |
The Ministry of Health noted these products were not listed in T&T’s medication database, however, was issuing the advisory out of an abundance of caution.
The Ministry asked any members of the public who may have any of these products to immediately discontinue any use, consult a physician if the product had been used and to return the product to the point of purchase.
