NEW DELHI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Amid concerns over alleged cough syrup-related deaths in two Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the health department in the southern state of Kerala has ordered that no medicines should be given to children under the age of 12 without a doctor's prescription, officials said Tuesday.
The local government of Kerala has also formed a three-member committee to study the use of cough medicines by children in the state and submit a report immediately.
Officials said that so far, no problem has been reported in children in Kerala related to cough syrup.
However, the authorities have stopped the distribution and sale of the cough syrup in question. The drug control department teams are conducting intensive inspections in the market.
Reports said 17 children -- 14 in Madhya Pradesh and three in Rajasthan -- have died allegedly after developing complications following the consumption of cough syrups. ■
