The Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has instructed not to produce, sell and distribute drugs containing ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.

It has been instructed that these two toxic chemicals are found to be mixed in some syrup-based medications used for children.

According to the World Health Organization, many children died after consuming medicines containing ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol in countries including Gambia and Indonesia.

In the report of the World Health Organization, it is claimed that the children died due to serious adverse effects on the kidneys known as Acute kidney Injury (AKI) because of the mentioned toxic chemicals. AKI is a sudden decrease in kidney function to complete kidney failure that develops within seven days.

Earlier, four cough syrup, namely Promethazine Oral Solution BP, Kofexnalin Baby Cough Syrup, MaKoff Baby Cough Syrup and MaGrip n Cold Syrup were linked with the death of 69 children in Gambia.

These cough syrups were all produced by an Indian drug maker, New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Further, all these drugs manufactured were only for exports and to be sold domestically in India.

As these two toxic chemicals may be found in the medicine produced and imported in Nepal, the drug administration has instructed to halt sales and distribution of medication containing these two components.