The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued an advisory warning against the use of cough syrup in young children after the death of 11 children in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

In Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, a fortnight has been shaken by the death of nine children in a fortnight due to kidney failure. The Health Officer in Madhya Pradesh and neighboring Rajasthan, where a similar death was reported in Sikar a few days ago, now suspects that the failure of the organ is related to the consumption of contaminated cough syrup.

Of the nine children who died, at least five had a history of taking colds, and one took Nextro syrup. Private doctors have been instructed to take precautions: No viral patient should be treated privately, but should be sent directly to the civil hospital.

Sad incidents have inspired immediate testing of dextromethorphon hydrobromide syrup batch and a statewide stop in their distribution. Currently, a line list of 1,420 children affected by symptoms such as cold, fever and flu is being closely monitored.

However, the Union Health Ministry said that no contamination was found in the syrup samples of cough, who have been convicted for deaths. The ministry said the results of the test confirmed that the syrup did not have a diathylene glycol (DEG) or Ethylene Glycol (EG) – chemicals that were known for severe kidney damage.

Along with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the sources of the Madhya Pradesh State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) were still confirmed today.

“So far, no contamination has been found in our test. All reports of syrup contamination are unbalanced and baseless,” CDSCO sources told India Today.