Telangana drug regulators have issued an urgent stop-use notice for a pediatric cough and allergy syrup after laboratory analysis detected ethylene glycol, a toxic industrial chemical. The advisory follows an alert from central regulators and raises renewed concerns about medicine safety, particularly for children.
The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has directed the immediate discontinuation of a specific batch of Almont-Kid Syrup, a commonly prescribed pediatric formulation containing levocetirizine and montelukast. The action followed an alert issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), East Zone, after laboratory testing revealed the presence of ethylene glycol, a substance not permitted in pharmaceutical formulations.
The public advisory was issued in January 2026 and applies across Telangana, India. Drug inspectors were instructed to identify, seize, and halt the distribution of the affected batch at pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, and storage facilities within the state. Authorities also asked healthcare professionals and caregivers to report any remaining stock.
Almont-Kid Syrup is prescribed for children to manage allergic rhinitis and asthma-related symptoms. Because pediatric patients metabolize toxins differently and have lower tolerance thresholds, regulatory authorities classified the contamination as a serious public health risk, even in the absence of confirmed adverse events at the time of notification.1
Ethylene glycol is a colourless, odourless liquid widely used in industrial products such as antifreeze and coolants. It has no therapeutic role in medicines. Regulatory standards prohibit its presence in pharmaceutical syrups due to its well-documented toxicity.2
The compound’s slightly sweet taste increases the risk of accidental ingestion, especially among children, making its detection in oral liquid medicines particularly concerning.1
After ingestion, ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. The body metabolizes it into toxic acids, including glycolic and oxalic acid. These metabolites cause:
Central nervous system depression
Severe metabolic acidosis
Rapid breathing and cardiovascular instability
Acute kidney injury due to calcium oxalate crystal deposition 3
Symptoms may begin with vomiting, drowsiness, or confusion and can progress to kidney failure and death if untreated. Children are especially vulnerable because smaller doses can produce severe toxicity.1
Incidents involving ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol contamination in medicinal syrups have been reported internationally over the past decades. Such cases highlight vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical supply chains, particularly in the sourcing and quality testing of excipients used in liquid formulations.2
The current advisory reflects regulatory efforts to prevent exposure before clinical harm occurs, emphasizing surveillance, inter-state coordination, and rapid public communication.
Healthcare professionals are advised to verify batch numbers before prescribing or dispensing pediatric syrups. Caregivers who possess the affected product should discontinue use immediately and consult a physician for alternative therapy. Any suspected adverse reactions should be reported to drug control authorities without delay.
References
MedlinePlus. “Ethylene Glycol Poisoning.” U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000774.htm.
World Health Organization. Substandard and Falsified Medical Products. Geneva: World Health Organization. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/substandard-and-falsified-medical-products.
Leo J. Schep, Robin J. Slaughter, Wayne A. Temple, and D. Michael G. Beasley, “Ethylene Glycol Poisoning,” Clinical Toxicology 47, no. 2 (2009): 85–93, https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650903086444.
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