Health officials in New York City are the latest in the US to warn against Botox injections from non-medical providers.
In a statement released on Friday, the New York City health department pointed to emerging reports of botulism-like illness as a result of botulinum toxin injections, commonly referred to as Botox. Botulism is a rare but serious disease caused by the same toxin found in the injections that attacks the body’s nerve cells, in turn causing muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing and, at times, death.
The warning came after three New Yorkers received the injections in their face, neck, upper back or armpits between 8 and 28 February. Various symptoms began days to weeks after their procedures and ranged from double vision, drooping eyelids, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing to hoarseness of voice, shortness of breath and difficulty raising arms.
All three people went to emergency departments and two were hospitalized, with one person being admitted to an intensive care unit. Health officials announced that all three cases were under investigation. At least one involved the administration of an injection by an unlicensed individual.
“Though it may seem simple, botulinum toxin injections are a medical procedure,” the New York City health commissioner, Ashwin Vasan, said, adding: “New Yorkers should not be getting injections from friends or at parties, and they should not be getting them from non-medical professionals such as beauticians or aestheticians.
“A price that is too good to be true, or if a service provider does not explain the risks and side-effects of the procedure, are clear warning signs that the products or services may not be legitimate and could pose a risk to your health,” Vasan continued.
The chances of a person developing a botulism-like illness or other adverse side-effects as a result of the injections are higher if the product is counterfeit or unlicensed, or if the product – even if approved by the Food and Drug Administration – is administered incorrectly, Friday’s statement warned.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued a statement on Friday, announcing that it was working alongside multiple state and local health departments, as well as the FDA, to investigate nationwide reports of harmful reactions after injections.
It reported that as of 18 April, 22 people from 11 states have reported harmful reactions after receiving the injections from unlicensed or untrained individuals or in non-healthcare settings, such as homes and spas.
Those states include California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.
