Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has issued a directive prohibiting the use of cough medicine for children under two years of age following reports of child deaths linked to such medications in various states.
The guidelines emphasize that cough medicines for young children should only be administered after proper clinical examination and under the advice of qualified doctors. The ministry has stressed that non-drug methods should be the primary approach to treating coughs and related symptoms in infants and toddlers.
All health institutions have been instructed to ensure the quality of any medicines used and to exercise extreme caution when prescribing cough medications to young children. The directive applies to both government and private healthcare facilities.
The ministry has warned private institutions to be particularly vigilant in their prescribing practices and to prioritize alternative treatment methods over pharmaceutical interventions for very young patients.
The Center has called on all state health institutions to strictly follow these guidelines to prevent further incidents. The move comes as concerns grow over the safety of over-the-counter and prescribed cough medicines for infants, with medical experts warning that such medications can pose serious health risks to children under two.
Parents and caregivers are being advised to consult healthcare professionals before administering any medication to young children and to explore non-pharmaceutical remedies such as proper hydration, humidifiers and supportive care for managing cough symptoms in infants.