The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued an alert concerning contaminated ‘Naturcold Syrup,’ which was discovered in Cameroon and poses serious health risks.
The medical product alert was posted on WHO’s website, warning Nigeria and other countries about the unsafe nature of this substandard product, particularly when used in children, as it may lead to severe injury or death.
The toxic effects of this syrup include symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury, which can prove fatal.
The substandard Naturcold Syrup was first reported to WHO on March 13, 2023, and was found to contain unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol as contaminants, with levels as high as 28.6 per cent, far above the acceptable limit of 0.10 per cent.
The manufacturer listed on the product packaging as ‘Fraken International (England)’ has been confirmed by the United Kingdom national regulatory authority, the MHRA, to not exist in the UK, raising concerns about the origin of the product. The manufacturer has not provided any guarantees to WHO regarding the safety and quality of the products.
WHO urges the public not to use the affected product and advises seeking immediate medical advice from healthcare professionals if any adverse reactions or unexpected side effects occur after its use.
Regulatory agencies are urged to increase surveillance and diligence within their supply chains, and greater surveillance of informal or unregulated markets is also advised.
Health authorities are encouraged to notify WHO immediately if these substandard products are found in their respective countries. Manufacturers of liquid dosage forms, especially syrups containing certain excipients, are advised to test for the presence of contaminants before use in medicines.
Healthcare professionals are urged to report any suspicious cases of adverse events linked to the use of contaminated medicines to the National Regulatory Authorities or National Pharmacovigilance Centre.
The WHO emphasizes that it has taken all reasonable precautions to verify the information contained in the alert and may update it as more information becomes available.