The circular also directed healthcare facilities and clinical establishments to ensure procurement and dispensing only of products manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices and formulated with pharmaceutical-grade excipients.
Published Oct 03, 2025 | 10:05 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2025 | 10:05 PM
The advisory, addressed to all states and Union Territories, stated that cough and cold medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children under 2 years. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: Emphasising the need for rational use of medicines, the DGHS pointed out that most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting and resolve without pharmacological intervention. Instead, non-drug measures such as adequate hydration, rest, and supportive care should be the first line of treatment.
Days after reports of child deaths linked to cough syrup consumption in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a nationwide advisory, cautioning against the use of cough and cold medicines in young children.
The advisory, addressed to all states and Union Territories, stated that “cough and cold medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children under 2 years. These are generally not recommended for ages below 5 and above that age, any use should follow careful clinical evaluation with close supervision, strict adherence to appropriate dosing, the shortest effective duration, and avoidance of multiple drug combinations.”
Emphasising the need for rational use of medicines, the DGHS pointed out that most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting and resolve without pharmacological intervention. Instead, non-drug measures such as adequate hydration, rest, and supportive care should be the first line of treatment.
The circular also directed healthcare facilities and clinical establishments to ensure procurement and dispensing only of products manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practices and formulated with pharmaceutical-grade excipients.
Sensitisation of doctors and pharmacists across both public and private sectors was described as “essential to uphold standards of care.”
The DGHS has asked state and UT health departments, district health authorities, and all healthcare institutions—from primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) to district hospitals and medical colleges—to widely disseminate and strictly implement the advisory.
The move comes amid rising concerns over the irrational use of paediatric cough syrups, with experts warning of potential risks including toxicity and adverse drug reactions in children.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
