Description

In developing countries there has been a long history of counterfeit cough medicine that is toxic, especially in children.


Product: cough syrup

 

Contaminant: diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol

Substituted for: glycerol

 

The substitution could be done:

(1) intentionally by the syrup producer

(2) by an unscrupulous supplier

 

Effect: acute renal failure, multi-organ failure, death

 

Differential diagnosis: reaction to propylene glycol, which is widely used in pharmaceuticals


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