Regarding Syrup and Reasons for Banning Circular from the Ministry of Health
Recently, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenkes RI) issued a temporary ban regarding the administration of syrup drugs, especially for children. In fact, syrup is one type of drug that is most often given to treat various health problems in children.
Compared to other types of drugs, drugs in the form of liquid solutions or syrups are more often given to pediatric patients. This is because the syrup is easier for children to swallow, especially for children who cannot take tablets and capsules.
Types of Syrups
There are several types of syrup formulations that are commonly circulated and given to children, namely:
Drug drops
Drop or drops are a form of syrup that is often used for children, especially babies. As the name implies, the liquid medicine will be dripped into the child's mouth using a special pipette which is generally included in the medicine package. Medicines that can be found in drops can be in the form of vitamins, cold medicine, or fever medicine.
Suspension drug
Suspended syrup is a drug in solid form that decomposes or is dispersed in a liquid. Suspension of syrup must be shaken before consumption.
Some types of drugs that are often found in the form of suspension syrup are gastric medications, cough medications, anticonvulsants, and antibiotics.
Dry syrup medicine
Dry syrup medicine is a powder medicine that needs to be dissolved with water before consumption. Usually, dry syrup bottles have a limit marking the addition of water.
Antibiotics are one of the most common types of dry syrup. After mixing with water, dry syrup should be used up within a maximum of 7 days. Syrup drugs contain substances or drugs which are generally added with solvents, flavours, dyes, or thickeners.
Reason for Banning the Circulation of Syrup Drugs from the Ministry of Health
The rise of cases of acute kidney failure in children has prompted the Indonesian Ministry of Health to instruct facilities and health workers not to sell or prescribe syrups, until the next official announcement. In addition, parents are also advised not to give syrup medicine to children without the approval of a doctor.
Although it still needs to be investigated further, the main reason for the prohibition of the circular drug syrup is the alleged contamination of the toxic content in the syrup which is suspected to be the trigger for the increase in cases of acute kidney failure in children in Indonesia.
Additional substances currently under suspicion are diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG). DEG and EG are alcohol solvents that are toxic and can cause a rapid decline in kidney function if ingested.
The danger is that diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are odorless and have a sweet taste so they may not be noticed if ingested or swallowed, especially in children.
Until now, the Ministry of Health and BPOM are still testing syrup drugs. If the syrup is detected to be contaminated with DEG and EG, BPOM will instruct the drug to be withdrawn and destroyed.
Because research and examination are still being carried out, up to now, syrup is still prohibited, especially for children.
If your child is sick, check with the doctor to get proper and safe treatment and care. Parents are also asked to be aware of the various symptoms of acute kidney failure in children, namely not urinating and reduced amount of urine, as well as with or without fever, diarrhea, cold cough, nausea, and vomiting. So, if your child shows these symptoms, immediately take him to the doctor for immediate treatment. Don't forget to also inform the health workers regarding the medical history and medicines consumed by the child.
Label : Health
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