The tragic series of children's deaths due to kidney failure in the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh shows no signs of stopping. With the toll reaching 9 in just 30 days, the health department is in disarray. Another child succumbed while receiving treatment in Nagpur this Wednesday. The grim saga started on September 4, and now nine children have lost their lives within a month, prompting urgent action from health officials and local administration.
SDM Saurabh Kumar Yadav of Parasia reported that 1,400 children have already been screened, and the campaign continues at a pace of 120 screenings per day to identify and treat potential cases promptly.
Initially treated for viral fever in Parasia, the affected children were later referred to Chhindwara, where severe kidney infections were discovered. They were subsequently sent to Nagpur, where nine children tragically died.
The families of Shivam, Vidhi, Adnan, Usaid, Rishika, Hetansh, Vikas, Chanchalesh, and Sandhya are grappling with the loss of their children's laughter, permanently silenced. They are bewildered that the very medication prescribed to cure their children might have taken their lives.
Local Doctors Speak Out
Aaj Tak's team reached Parasia and spoke with Dr. Praveen Soni, who treated 6 of these children. Dr. Soni, a government doctor who also runs a private clinic, emphasized that this year's viral fever is unprecedented, with many patients self-medicating for cold and cough before seeking professional help. "I have been practicing for 38 years," he stated.
Toxic Substance to Blame for Kidney Failure, Says Dr. Prabhakar Tiwari
Senior Joint Director of NHM, Dr. Prabhakar Tiwari from Bhopal, informed that syrup samples were taken, although results are pending. Biopsy reports of the deceased children indicate that their kidneys failed due to a 'toxic substance.' It remains to be seen whether this was present in the cough syrup or elsewhere. The industrial chemical, Diethylene Glycol (DEG), has been frequently mentioned, which is extremely hazardous if even a trace is found in the syrup.
Medicines Not Yet Proven Deadly, Says Health Minister
State Health Minister Rajendra Shukla announced the government's wait for the final report. Preliminary sample tests have not detected elements that attribute the deaths to medications. Continuous dialogues are happening between Madhya Pradesh and the central health departments, with the final report expected soon to determine the true cause of the deaths, whether medicine-related or otherwise.
Despite the government's statements, the harsh reality remains that children's deaths have continued for 30 days, leaving families in shock as officials seek answers. The pressing question remains: Is the cough syrup the silent assassin, or does another poison lurk? Until the truth is unearthed, fear grips every mother in Chhindwara's villages, worried that a simple cough could spell her child's last breath.
About Cough Syrup:
Coldrif Cough Syrup costs ₹89.
Nextro DS Cough Syrup is priced at ₹75.
Coldrif is manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical in Tamil Nadu.
Nextro DS is produced in Himachal.
Their supplier in MP is Kataria Pharma (Jabalpur).
So far, they are supplied only in Chhindwara in MP.
