Syrup medicines: child deaths in Indonesia reach 195

Jakarta: The number of children who died after taking syrup medicines, which had harmful substances that caused kidney failure in victims, in Indonesia has reached 195, Agence France-Presse.

Since August, Indonesia has been witnessing death cases and acute kidney injury (AKI). The Southeast Asian county subsequently banned all liquid-based medicine from the sale.

There were more than 320 cases of AKI reported across the country, and 27 were admitted to hospital, the health ministry informed in a press conference. Most of the children affected are aged under five.

The confirmed death count was 133 on October 21, and in 17 days, it reached 195. Tests inferred that excess amounts of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, two compounds used in industrial products such as antifreeze, caused most of the deaths.

Last month, Indonesia banned five syrups that contained dangerous levels of harmful substances and ordered them to be cleared then from the market and destroyed them.

Further, an investigation has been launched into three local pharmaceutical companies and cancelled the licence to produce syrup medicines from two of them.

Before the spike happened recently, Indonesia had recorded two to five AKI cases a month.

Last month, The Gambia in West Africa reported 70 child deaths, which were suspected to be caused by imported syrup medicines.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization revealed that it had found more than allowable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in four Indian-made cough syrups. It warned that the said brands might have links with the deaths in The Gambia.