NAFDAC has issued a warning regarding tainted cough syrup that has allegedly killed children in the Gambia.
The four cough syrups have been related to acute renal damage and mortality in children.
Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup are the cough syrups.
The Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said laboratory analysis showed that the syrups contained unacceptable amount of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol.
Diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal, she said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state and acute kidney injury, which may lead to death. The stated manufacturer of these products is Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited, Haryana, India. To date, they have not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products. All the batches of these products listed above should be considered unsafe,” she warned.
NAFDAC advised Nigerians to be cautious because the medications may have found their way into the informal market.
RN