At least 19 women in nine states reportedly became ill after getting Botox injections. That's because they either got the shot from someone who is not licensed or trained to inject, or they got the shot in a “non-medical setting” such as their home or a spa. The Agency for Disease Control and Prevention announced Monday.
Nine of the 19 patients were hospitalized, according to the CDC. Four people were “treated with Clostridium botulinum antitoxin because the toxin may have spread beyond the injection site.”
Botox uses a purified neurotoxin called botulinum toxin to inhibit muscle movement for a period of time. This product is often used to prevent or reduce facial wrinkles. If this toxin is present in food, it can cause widespread paralysis and death.
However, if injected carefully, botulinum toxin is generally considered safe. According to the CDC, too much in the wrong place can be harmful.
Cases have been confirmed in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Washington. No deaths were reported.
It is unclear whether the reaction is the result of a fake product, contamination, or poor hygiene practices. The CDC investigation is ongoing, the agency said.
The Food and Drug Administration said in a statement Friday that it is involved in the investigation.
Warnings are growing against medical practices in unregulated medical spas. Colorado health officials told NBC News they are investigating a case of a botulism-like illness caused by an unlicensed health care provider injecting a patient with what is believed to be botulinum toxin. Patients in Illinois received shots from a nurse who was “acting outside of her authority,” the state Department of Public Health said.
Problematic reactions to botulinum toxin injections include:
- Blurred or double vision
- drooping eyelids
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- dry mouth
- slurred speech
- Fatigue and weakness.
