A new revelation from AIIMS, New Delhi, has raised serious concerns about the safety of certain cough syrups circulating in the market. Dr. Pankaj Hari, Head of the Pediatrics Department at AIIMS, warned that when cough syrup contains toxic chemicals like diethylene glycol, its effects can appear within just three days—and a delay in treatment can prove fatal.

According to Dr. Hari, similar incidents were reported in Gurugram in 1998, where several children lost their lives due to the same chemical contaminant found in locally made medicines.

Contamination, Not Overdose, Is the Real Killer

Dr. Pankaj clarified that cough syrups themselves do not directly cause kidney failure or death. While an overdose of the active ingredients can cause drowsiness and lethargy, these symptoms are not fatal. The real danger lies in contamination during the manufacturing process.

He explained, “This cough syrup contains diethylene glycol, a chemical sometimes used as a cheap substitute in manufacturing. Once inside the body, it travels through the bloodstream to the kidneys, damaging internal organs and stopping urine production. This leads to acute kidney failure and brain damage, often putting patients into a coma.”

The 1998 Gurugram Tragedy

Recounting the 1998 incident, Dr. Pankaj said, “When I was an Assistant Professor, several children from a locality in Gurgaon came in with symptoms of kidney failure and loss of consciousness. Initial tests showed no viral cause. Later, lab tests revealed that the syrups they had consumed contained high levels of diethylene glycol. Those syrups were poorly labeled and sold in plastic bottles.”

The findings were later published in a scientific journal, but despite the tragedy, similar incidents have continued—including recent cases in The Gambia, where children reportedly died after consuming contaminated Indian cough syrups.

Regulatory Failure and Responsibility

Dr. Pankaj criticized the lack of strict regulation, stating, “This is not the doctor’s fault. The entire responsibility lies with the Drug Controller. What happened in 1998 was due to contamination, not the medicine itself. If manufacturing is faulty, it’s the regulator’s duty to identify and stop it. Patients or parents cannot detect such contamination on their own.”

He emphasized that regular inspections and strict quality checks are essential to prevent contaminated medicines from reaching the public.

Timely Treatment Can Save Lives

According to Dr. Pankaj, survival depends largely on how quickly the patient reaches the hospital. “If the dose is small, symptoms may remain mild. But if the case is detected early, dialysis and antidote medication can save lives,” he said. “The key is early diagnosis and hospital intervention.”