IDPH cautions the public on counterfeit botox

ILLINOIS (KBSI) –The Illinois Department of Health has put out a warning after several people have been diagnosed with botulism poisoning.

Hillary Spencer is the infection prevention medical advisor for IDPH. She shares details on the investigation. 

“It is very very rare but in this case it appears there are some symptoms that look like botulism after administration of a Botox or Botox like product.” 

So far four cases have been reported in Illinois and two in Tennessee over the last month.

Botulism attacks the nerves in the body and causes several symptoms that can be severe…. 

“So you can have weakness that usually starts in the face mouth throat, and it can move down the body into the throat, neck arms, legs, so weakness throughout. You can also develop weakness of the muscle that controls breathing making it difficult to breath and that’s also the most dangerous effects of this and can rarely lead to death.” says Spencer. 

Spencer says although the investigation is still ongoing it appears that this counterfeit Botox product was purchased from the same place.  

“There does seem to be a relationship between these products and perhaps where they were purchased by the people doing the administration so they cases from one state to another don’t appear to be related but it does seem to be a relationship between the product that was used. 

The Illinois Department of Health recommends anytime you get a cosmetic procedure make sure you are getting it done from a credited place with a licensed esthetician.