The Centre has issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories on the rational use of cough syrups in the paediatric population. The Union Health Ministry has advised that Cough and cold medications should not be prescribed or dispensed to children below two years. It said, these are generally not recommended for children below five years, and above that, any use should follow careful clinical evaluation with close supervision and strict adherence to appropriate dosing and avoiding multiple drug combinations. The Ministry has written a letter to the Director of Health Services of all States and Union Territories in this regard. It said that most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting and often resolve without pharmacological intervention. The Ministry has requ

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