The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the presence of contaminated cold-out syrup (Paracetamol and Chlorpheniramine Maleate) in some countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
These syrups were disclosed to be in circulation in Iraq in July 2023. The combination syrup is used to treat and relieve symptoms of the common cold and allergy symptoms.
The organisation reported that a sample of cold-out syrup was obtained from a site in Iraq and subjected to laboratory analysis. The analysis concluded that the sample contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol (0.25%) and ethylene glycol (2.1%). The acceptable safe limit for ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol should not be more than 0.10%.
“The manufacturer of the relevant batch of the product is an Indian company. So far, the manufacturer and the company marketing the two products have not submitted declarations to the WHO guarantees the safety and quality of this product,” according to the statement issued by the organisation on Tuesday.
WHO indicated that this product may have marketing authorizations in other countries or regions. It is not excluded that it was also distributed in other countries through informal markets.
According to the statement, diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. A low-quality batch of the aforementioned product is not safe and ingestion may lead to serious injury or death, especially among children.
The effects of poisoning can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to urinate, headache, mood swings, and acute kidney injury, which can lead to death.
