The Gambia has ordered importers and stores to suspend sales of all brands of paracetamol as the government launches an investigation into a suspected link between the drug and the deaths of dozens of young children.
The head of the health system in the West African country said the investigation was launched after discovering an increase in cases of acute kidney injury among children under the age of five in late July. It was also found that a number of children developed kidney problems after three to five days of consuming paracetamol syrup, which is sold locally.
The drug watchdog said there was not enough data to justify a general ban on acetaminophen, a pain reliever often used to lower fevers in children.
The children developed symptoms including an inability to urinate, high fever, and vomiting, which quickly led to kidney failure.
The agency did not name any specific brands, but said some samples were sent overseas for quality control testing.
WHO officials said last week that the evidence indicated not “paracetamol” but a carrier source such as contaminated water, but pointed out that there were many unanswered questions.
