South Shore Health refused to answer questions about the fact that the health care system dealt with suspicious cases or how much it saw, referring to the Ministry of Public Health.
However, Dr. Jason Tracy, a head doctor of the health system, generally said that patients receive an alleged diagnosis made from their clinical presentation of the symptoms and history of recent injections.
From there, the hospital would involve both the Ministry of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control, which has an anti-toxin which it provides on a case-by-case basis. Anti-toxin helps slow the progression of symptoms, but does not reverse them, and hospitals therefore generally provide support measures.
“It’s quite rare,” said Tracy. “It is different from a case of a botulism of food origin. It is not as if there was a lot of literature to refer to clinicians to give a prognosis and historical elements and time lessons to expect.”
The use of botulinum toxin – commonly known with the name of popular Botox brand – for cosmetic procedures is largely understood to be safe. The powerful toxin, produced by a bacteria, blocks the capacity of the nervous system to activate the muscles. It has become known worldwide for its ability to soften and prevent wrinkles, and it is the most common cosmetic procedure administered worldwide, with around 3 million injections carried out each year.
Cosmetic treatments with doses of use of botulinum toxin much lower than for medical treatments, said Dr. Mathew Mr. Avram, director of mass. Dermatology laser of the general hospital and cosmetic center. With products regulated and approved by the FDA in a healthy adult, the amount of toxin is so small that it is extremely rare for it to cause botulism.
“I have never seen a patient or had one of my colleagues at mass. General or elsewhere who told me that he had one case. It is not something that happens normally,” said Avram. “Someone should get out of the field of what would usually inject you to encounter these problems, for a typical patient.”
Beyond the injection too much, poor administration technique or the use of counterfeit products can increase risks.
“We have seen cases where injectors have used counterfeit products or products that they have developed alone,” said Avram. “These are dangerous practices that can affect patients.”
According to the opinion, botulism translates when the botulinum toxin circulates in the blood. Symptoms, including a double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, linked speeches, difficulties in swallowing and difficulty breathing. These symptoms are sometimes followed by muscle weaknesses, which can progress during hours or days.
The DPH asked clinicians to warn patients interested in these aesthetic injections of potential risks and advises patients to receive injections only for approved providers.
“If someone had an injection of Botox and had these symptoms, he should consult a doctor,” said Tracy. “I do not want to create concern, but someone has visual changes, linked speeches and difficulty swallowing – they should not ignore it.”
The reports are only the latest Botox problems to surface on the southern shore. In November, Rebecca Fadanelli, 38, was arrested and accused of having sold the Botox counterfeit from the skin of the skin of the skin in Easton and Randolph.
Prosecutors say Fandanelli has imported Botox, Sculptra and Juvederm from China and Brazil for years and made more than a thousand injections, receiving more than $ 900,000 in customer payments. Although she told customers and employees that she was a nurse, the prosecutors said she was an esthetician and was not properly authorized.
Jessica Bartlett can be reached jessica.bartlett@globe.com. Follow her @ByJessBartlett.
