Madhya Pradesh tragedy: Probe launched after 6 children die of kidney failure in 15 days; 2 cough syrups banned

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A spate of mysterious child deaths in Madhya Pradesh has been linked to toxic cough syrups, prompting a ban and a major public health investigation, according to an NDTV report.

Six children, all under the age of five, have died from kidney failure in the Chhindwara district within a fortnight. The tragedy unfolded after the youngsters, previously healthy, initially presented with what seemed to be a mild cold and fever.

Local doctors prescribed routine medication, including cough syrups, after which the children appeared to recover. However, their conditions deteriorated rapidly days later, with parents reporting a sudden and alarming decrease in urine output. The situation quickly escalated into severe kidney infections.

Despite being rushed for advanced treatment in Nagpur, Maharashtra, three of the children could not be saved. "Our children had never even been sick before," a grieving parent was quoted by NDTV as saying. "This time, they had a small fever. After the syrup, their urine stopped. We couldn't save them."

The investigation took a critical turn when kidney biopsies revealed the presence of diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used in antifreeze and a known cause of pharmaceutical poisoning. Authorities confirmed that most of the young victims had been administered two specific syrups: Coldrif and Nextro-DS.

In response, Chhindwara Collector Sheelendra Singh immediately banned the sale of both syrups across the district. "The biopsy report strongly suggests contaminated medicine as the cause of kidney failure," Singh stated in his urgent advisory to doctors, pharmacies and parents. He further noted that water samples from the affected villages showed no signs of infection, strengthening the link to the drugs.

The district administration has called in a team from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to assist with the probe. A two-member team from Bhopal's Health Department is already on the ground in the affected areas of Parasia, Newton Chikli and nearby villages, conducting interviews with families, collecting medicine samples and performing door-to-door surveys to identify any other potential cases.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Naresh Gonare provided a timeline, revealing that the first suspected case was reported on August 24, with the first death occurring on September 7.

"Since September 20, more cases of urinary retention and kidney complications have emerged," Dr Gonare was cited by NDTV. "This is a sensitive period for viral infections, but sudden kidney failure in so many children points to something far more dangerous."

The ICMR team has dispatched blood and medicine samples to the Virology Institute in Pune for definitive analysis.