The government is warning parents not to purchase a cough and cold remedy from El Salvador that is being sold in some Salvadoran and other Latin American neighborhood grocery stores across the country.
Baczol Antigripal, Baczol Expectorante and Bactrizole products include an antibiotic ingredient, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), that is causing skin problems in children. There are versions of the Baczol Antigriptal and Baczol Expectorante in the United States that do not contain TMP/SMX and meet legal requirements for sale.
The sale of antibiotics is illegal in the United States without a doctor’s prescription.
Parents should never purchase antibiotics over the counter because using them improperly can cause drug reactions in children.
Report any problems related to these products to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.
