Cough and cold medications not to be prescribed to children under 2: Health Ministry

Issuing an advisory to all states and union territories, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked for a careful evaluation and not to prescribe cold medications to children under the age of 2. 

This comes after several deaths of children were reported in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh after the consumption of a generic cough syrup. 

"Cough and cold medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children under 2 years. These are generally not recommended for ages below 5 years and above that, any use should follow careful clinical evaluation with close supervision and strict adherence to appropriate dosing, the shortest effective duration, and avoiding multiple drug combinations. Further, the public may also be sensitized regarding adherence to prescription by the Doctors," mentioned the official advisory released by the ministry. 

The ministry also mentioned that most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting and often resolve without pharmacological intervention. 

Non-pharmacological measures, which include adequate hydration, rest, and supportive measures, should be the first-line approach. 

The ministry further called for all healthcare facilities and clinical establishments to ensure the procurement and dispensing of products manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices and formulated with pharmaceutical-grade excipients. Those concerned should also ensure the sensitisation of prescribers and dispensers across public and private sectors. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare clarified that the cough syrups were not contaminated with the toxic chemicals. The clarification is based on an investigation by a joint team consisting of representatives from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Institute of Virology (NIV), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), etc, IANS reported.