United States: According to the CDC in the US on Tuesday, the high-risk circulating products that have been performing fake botox injections have made many emergency room visits.
CDC has been looking into the case along with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local health officials. A concerning wave has been spread across the US, among health experts, when the cases have been rising for the past year, and the case count has reached 22 so far.
What is Botox?
The alert report from the CDC stated that the women were experiencing “adverse effects” after being injected with “counterfeit botulinum toxin,” as Fox News reported.
Moreover, injections are administered by “unlicensed or untrained individuals” or in “non-healthcare settings, such as homes or spas.”
The symptoms reported among the affected women were blurry visions, bendy eyelids, dryness in the mouth, tiredness, slurred speech, and shortness of breath.
Severity of reaction can be suggested as 50 percent of the total cases had to be orpitalized. According to CDC, None of the instances met the “case definition for botulism.”
Know about Botulism
According to the CDC, Botulism is a “serious and sometimes fatal” illness that happens when the toxins are attacking the nerves inside the body.
Its first-stage symptoms include weakness around the eyes, face, mouth, and throat muscles, which could spread to the neck, limbs, and torso region.
Additionally, the experts also mentioned other symptoms such as blurry or double vision, difficulty in breathing, trouble swallowing food, and even difficulty in moving the eyes.
Even as per the reports, some individuals might experience these symptoms without having experienced botulism.
Dr. Anne Truitt, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, California, said that reputable sources must be the only origin for buying Botox or other injectables by doctors or clinicians.
She added, “Injecting an unknown product at unknown concentrations into your body is really dangerous and potentially fatal,” as Fox News reported.
Dr. Craig Lehrman, director of aesthetic surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, stated since the 2000s, the prevalence of fake Botox has been causing cases of accidents on the rise.
He said, “Unfortunately, I treat several patients a year who have received non-approved injectables of things they are told to be safe — which ends up having serious consequences.”
“It has mostly been linked to injections in settings such as someone’s home or a poorly regulated med spa,” and “The people receiving the presumed counterfeit Botox are suffering from an illness that is similar to botulism, caused by the same bacteria,” he said.
Lehrman also warned that although strict rules are placed for the usage and storage of Botox, its serious repercussions are borne by the victims when injections are provided by fraudulent or poorly managed products.
“Botulism can carry detrimental effects ranging from infection to permanent deformity to serious wound formation,” said Lehrman.
Safe ways to use Botox – Experts
According to the CDC, “Cosmetic injections should be an FDA-approved product, administered by licensed providers and in licensed settings,” as Fox News reported.
He said, “I would advise potential patients to do their research on the person who will be injecting them — and not just search for the cheapest option,” and “I would recommend going to a center that has rigorous standards of education and a track record of safety.”
Truitt said, “Botox has been well-tested and researched for many years,” and, “Used appropriately, it is safe and one of the best tools to reduce the effects of aging.”
Moreover, the CDC stated, “Laboratory-confirmed cases of systemic botulism occurring after cosmetic or therapeutic injections of botulinum toxin are rare.”
In order to have fool-proof safety, Truitt explains that it is important to go to a licensed provider and to avoid “Botox parties” and “pop-up” med spas.