Hyderabad: Telangana’s Health Department moved into emergency mode after reports of 14 child deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan linked to Coldrif cough syrup. The department directed all hospitals, pharmacies, and district medical units to check stocks and start immediate recalls wherever the medicine is available.
Officials reminded doctors and parents not to give cough syrups to children under two years. They advised home remedies, fluids, and rest for mild cough. Doctors were told to prescribe syrups only when essential and to choose brands that follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Telangana steps up Coldrif cough syrup recall
The department ordered an urgent recall of batch SR-13 (manufactured May 2025, expiry April 2027), suspected to contain diethylene glycol. District Drug Control teams will trace and seize the batch, while retailers must stop selling it, separate bottles in stock, and share purchase records to aid tracing.
Hospitals and paediatric clinics will report any adverse reactions possibly linked to Coldrif. Warning signs in children include breathing trouble, persistent fever, vomiting, and poor feeding. Parents have been advised not to self-medicate infants and to seek medical help at once if such symptoms appear.
Meanwhile, District Medical and Health Officers will conduct awareness drives in both government and private facilities. These sessions will explain recall steps, how to identify the batch, and the “under-two” advisory. The department is also preparing multilingual notices so citizens can understand the alert easily.
To streamline information, the toll-free number 1800-599-6969 will register complaints about SR-13 stock, suspected sales, and adverse reactions. Citizens holding this batch must stop use immediately and inform local Drug Control officers for safe collection.
Officials said these are precautionary measures while lab tests continue. They urged the public to cooperate fully with the recall, follow the under-two rule, and buy only GMP-certified syrups. Therefore, quick reporting will help remove unsafe stock and prevent further risk to children.
