Deadly Cough Syrup Claims Two Children's Lives in Rajasthan; Doctor Falls Unconscious After Testing Medicine

The victims were children aged two and five years old.

Jaipur:

A government-supplied generic cough syrup manufactured by Kayson Pharma for Rajasthan has caused two child fatalities and sickened at least 10 others within the past two weeks, according to official reports. In an alarming demonstration, a doctor who consumed the syrup to prove its safety lost consciousness and was discovered in his vehicle eight hours later.

The dangerous batches of the cough syrup containing dextromethorphan hydrobromide were identified on Monday when a five-year-old child died shortly after being administered the medication.

Five-year-old Nitish from Rajasthan's Sikar district developed respiratory symptoms and was taken to Chirana Community Health Centre (CHC) on Sunday. The physician prescribed the cough syrup, which was provided by the Centre. Nitish's mother administered the medication around 11:30 PM that night.

Nitish briefly woke at 3 AM with hiccups, was given water by his mother, then returned to sleep. He never regained consciousness thereafter.

His parents rushed him to the government hospital Monday morning, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

"Nitish was completely fine that day and had even attended the evening Navratri celebration. When his cough returned at night, we gave him the medicine obtained from Chirana CHC. By morning, we couldn't wake him and took him to the CHC, where we were directed to the Sikar government hospital. He received the prescribed dosage and was perfectly normal before taking the medicine," Nitish's uncle Priyakant Sharma told NDTV.

Earlier Incident

Following Nitish's case, the parents of a two-year-old who died after taking the same cough syrup on September 22 realized the cause of their child's death.

NDTV visited Malha village near Bharatpur to meet this family. They reported that 2-year-old Samrat Jatav, his sister Sakshi, and cousin Virat all developed respiratory infections earlier in the month. Samrat's mother Jyoti visited the local public health center on September 22 and received the identical Kayson Pharma cough syrup.

Jyoti administered the syrup to all three children at 1:30 PM. The family became concerned when none of the children woke even after five hours. They managed to rouse Sakshi and Viraat, who immediately vomited, but Samrat remained unresponsive.

The two-year-old was immediately transported to a Bharatpur hospital, then transferred to JK Lon Hospital in Jaipur, where he died on September 22.

"Three of my grandchildren took the syrup without any knowledge it could be fatal. Two eventually woke hours later, but we lost our 2-year-old Samrat... We didn't realize the syrup was responsible until hearing about the Sikar district boy and others who became ill from it," said Samrat's grandmother Nehni Jatav.

Doctor's Incident

In neighboring Bayana, 3-year-old Gagan Kumar became ill after receiving the cough syrup on September 24. His mother complained to Dr. Tarachand Yogi, the community health center official who had prescribed the medication.

To demonstrate its safety, Dr. Yogi confidently consumed a dose himself and administered some to ambulance driver Rajendra.

The doctor subsequently drove toward Bharatpur but became drowsy, pulled over, and lost consciousness. When his family couldn't reach him, they tracked his mobile phone location and discovered him unconscious in his vehicle eight hours later.

The ambulance driver experienced similar symptoms three hours after taking the syrup but has since recovered following treatment.

In the past week, eight additional children between ages one and five fell ill in southern Rajasthan's Banswara district after consuming the medicine.

Government Response

Following reports of the fatalities and illnesses, Rajasthan's government banned 22 batches of the syrup and halted their distribution. Medical department officials reported that 1.33 lakh bottles of the syrup have been distributed to patients across Rajasthan since July this year.

Over 8,200 bottles remain in stock at SMS Hospital in Jaipur, but officials have been instructed to ensure they aren't dispensed.

Speaking to NDTV, Dr. Pradyuman Jain, pediatrician at Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Banswara, stated, "The suspected drug causing breathing difficulties and drowsiness has been banned. The reactions might also result from overdosing. In Banswara, most children have recovered after treatment. A 6-year-old was in serious condition but has also recovered."

Jai Singh, executive director for quality control at Rajasthan Medical Services Corporation Limited, confirmed that doctors have been instructed to cease prescribing the syrup. "Samples from 22 batches are being tested, and supplies of this drug from Kayson Pharma have been halted," he said.

Rajasthan Drug Controller Ajay Phatak told NDTV that another cough syrup from the same company was barred in 2023 due to insufficient menthol content.

NDTV visited Kayson Pharma's factory but found it locked. The company's owner, Virendra Kumar Gupta, was unavailable for comment.