Public Health Warning: Unlicensed Botox Injections Cause Serious Risk in Illinois
Two persons in Illinois were hospitalized after receiving injections of what seemed to be a counterfeit Botox.
On April 8, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued a press release advising healthcare facilities to be on the lookout for people exhibiting symptoms of “botulism” after two people in LaSalle County reported receiving injections of Botox or “a similar possibly counterfeit product” before being admitted to hospital.
“Illinois residents should exercise caution when considering cosmetic treatment,” stated IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra in a statement. “Receiving these treatments in unlicensed, unapproved settings can put you or your loved ones at serious risk for health problems.”
“Please only seek cosmetic services under the care of licensed professionals trained to do these procedures and who use FDA-approved products,” he went on to say. “If you are experiencing any health problems after a recent cosmetic treatment, please contact your healthcare provider immediately for help and assistance.” Botulism is an uncommon but deadly sickness caused by a toxin that affects the body’s nerves, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Symptoms include weakness in the eyes, face, mouth, and throat, which can spread to other sections of the body such as the neck, arms, and torso, as well as weakening of the breathing muscles. This can cause trouble breathing and death.
According to the IDPH, the two people reported symptoms “similar” to botulism, such as blurred/double vision, a sagging face, weariness, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and a raspy voice after receiving injections.
Both stated that they had the injections from a licensed nurse in LaSalle County who was “performing work outside of her authority.”
The IDPH stated that comparable cases had also been reported by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), although it did not specify if those cases were related to the ones in Illinois.
Last week, the TDH issued a notice stating that four persons reported botulism symptoms, which preliminary investigations revealed were caused by being injected with “counterfeit” Botox products.
Both health departments stated that they were requesting that health practitioners report incidents of botulism, as well as the patient’s history of botox injections and details such as “injection sites, number of doses administered” and “product used.”
The IDPH stated that the botulinum toxin, the essential ingredient in Botox and a chemical that relaxes facial muscles, can only be injected by qualified professionals under the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The IDFPR list includes physicians and nurses, but not cosmetologists and estheticians.
It stated that healthcare providers delivering Botox should guarantee that the medicine they get is “authorized” by Allergan, the FDA-approved manufacturer of Botox.