Health chiefs warn of terrifying Botox complication that can lead to paralysis - after 14 people suffer reaction
Health officials today sounded the alarm over a chilling consequence of Botox injections.
More than a dozen victims in northern England in recent weeks have reported suffering issues like severe eyelid drooping, double vision, trouble swallowing, slurred speech and lethargy.
While still under investigation the reactions are believed to be linked to a paralysis-triggering bacterial infection following the aesthetic treatment.
The illness is caused by the same toxins that give the injections their wrinkle busting powers impairing a patient's nerves.
The 14 cases, from County Durham and Darlington have been reported in the days and weeks after the injections were delivered, health chiefs said.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it's not currently believed that the product used was contaminated, a factor known to increase the risk of botulism from injections.
Instead, officials have told clinicians to look out for botulism in people who have had recent aesthetic procedures so they can have the appropriate treatment, which includes receiving an anti-toxin.
Dr Joanne Darke, consultant in health protection with the UKHSA, said: 'Botulism is a rare infection, but it can be serious.
'It is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
'There are effective treatments available.
'If you have had a recent treatment and are having symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or drooping eyelids, contact NHS 111 or A&E for further advice and seek treatment.
'It is important to get checked out so you can have peace of mind and treatment if needed. It is also important to go to a licensed practitioner.'
Amanda Healy, County Durham director of public health, added: 'We are working closely with colleagues at UKHSA to investigate the cause of these adverse reactions and to ensure all possible steps are taken to prevent more people becoming unwell.'
Botox is the most recognised brand of the substance Botulinum toxin, which is used to paralyse facial muscles with the aim of reducing wrinkles.
It's typically safe when used by a trained medical professional to paralyse muscles for a range of treatments.
However, if the toxins are administered incorrectly, it can cause symptoms such as weakness, difficulty in breathing and/or swallowing.
This can lead to paralysis and even death if it's severe and not treated, with up to one in ten cases of botulism being fatal.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
39 minutes ago
- Telegraph
NHS boss claims Nigerian mother got the ‘black service'
An NHS boss has claimed his Nigerian mother received the 'black service, not an NHS service' after dying from suspected lung cancer. Lord Victor Adebowale, chairman of the NHS Confederation, which represents all health organisations, said the death of his 92-year-old mother was 'undignified'. His mother Grace, who worked as an NHS nurse for 45 years, died in January, possibly from lung cancer, but it was not detected until after she died. Lord Victor said there were 'too many situations where people that look like me and shades of me don't get the service'. 'It was not the dignified death that we would have wanted for her. It wasn't the death she deserved,' he told the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester. 'So it makes me clear about the need to address the inequity. I think she got a black service, not an NHS service.' Mrs Adebowale emigrated from Nigeria to Scotland in the 1950s and worked as a nurse across mental health, maternity and acute care, during her career. Lord Victor, who grew up in Wakefield, said that he did not want to blame anyone for her death as the details were not yet clear, but he said that he wanted to highlight a 'systematic problem'. 'She lived to the age of 92 and you may think, 'well, she had a good old innings', but for a lot of those years she was in some discomfort, and it looks like she died from cancer,' he said. 'It's still the case that if you look like me, you're more likely to discover that you've got cancer in A&E, and that for me is an example of two different services.' 'Black people have worse outcomes' He added: 'I used the phrase 'black service'... you only have to look at the stats – across all the major disease categories that we talk about, black people have a worse experience and worse outcomes – we've known that for years, I'm not saying anything new.' He said his mother was an example of a wider issue and he was 'sick of it not changing like everyone else, and I'm close enough to it to know that it happens'. He said there was nothing in his mother's medical records to suggest she had cancer, and that she had gone to A&E in 'poor condition' at a hospital that 'was really struggling when she went in'. Lord Victor said his sister had to argue for their mother to be given a room but that they had not found the reason for her death yet. 'We haven't got to the bottom of it, and that's why I'm not blaming anybody, and I don't want to, but I can talk about my experience and my observation of what happened to my mum,' he said. 'How does that happen? I know it does happen. People have chronic diseases and people don't know and they die of them – I know it's more likely to happen if you're black, it's also more likely to happen if you're poor.' Of his mother, whose full name was Grace Amoke Owuren Adebowale, and who worked in various nursing sectors including mental health, acute care and maternity, he said: 'If you are a nurse, it is what you are, it's what you're born to do.' He went on: 'It is not acceptable that someone who looks like me, on average waits 20 minutes longer in A&E than white patients.' Kate Seymour, head of external affairs at Macmillan Cancer Support, said the story highlighted 'the heartbreaking reality for some when it comes to accessing cancer care in this country'. 'It is categorically unacceptable that some people with cancer are having worse experiences simply because of who they are or where they live. The Government in England has a unique opportunity in its upcoming cancer plan to revolutionise cancer care,' she said. An NHS spokesperson said: 'Everyone – no matter their background – should receive the best NHS care possible. 'That's why we are working across the NHS to ensure that happens – from improving access to cancer diagnosis and treatment, to expanding health checks for Black and Asian communities and increasing uptake of blood pressure and cholesterol medication in under-served groups. 'But we know there is much more to do, and tackling health inequalities will form an important part of the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Surprising ingredient in dessert favorites that raises your risk of a heart attack
Cardiologists are warning of an often overlooked ingredient in desserts that can lead to high blood pressure if consumed in excess. Typically a garnish on cookies, bread and butter, soft pretzels, and caramel treats, coarse sea salt contains more sodium than its less expensive grocery store alternative. People enjoy the added crunch and marriage of savory and sweet in desserts, but people are inadvertently eating too much salt. Because coarse salt has larger crystals, it may feel less salty per bite, leading some people to use more than they would with fine salt. Excessive sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. The body only needs a small amount of sodium to function properly. Sodium is an essential electrolyte that plays several critical roles in the body, including maintaining fluid balance and blood pressure, supporting nerve function, and enabling muscle contractions. Most Americans consume too much sodium, though – 3,300 mg per day on average, or about 40 percent more than the recommended 2,300mg limit. People tend to believe that coarse sea salt contains less sodium than standard fine salt, yet both contain about 40 percent sodium. Salt lurks everywhere in the Western diet, not just in processed meats, snack foods, but in unsuspecting foods, including breads, canned soups, frozen meals, cheese, sauces, and marinades. An estimated 89 percent of adults and around 94 percent of children consume too much sodium, according to the CDC. Eating too much salt is a major setup for high blood pressure. The World Health Organization also estimates that 1.9 million deaths globally each year can be attributed to eating too much salt. As sodium causes the body to retain fluids, blood volume and pressure on artery walls increase. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious health issues. Dr Brent Egan, an internist and vice president of cardiovascular health at the American Medical Association, said: 'It would take us about a little over 1,000 milligrams a day to get from where we are to where the recommendation would be for the upper limit.' 'And if we did that, we'd probably see a significant reduction in blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.' Roughly 116 million Americans have high blood pressure. Approximately 805,000 heart attacks occur each year, as well as 795,000 strokes. 'If someone has high blood pressure, heart disease, that type of thing, 1,500 milligrams is probably a better target, but for the general population that's really interested in limiting the burden of chronic disease, 2,300 milligrams is generally what is recommended,' Dr Egan said. Too much sodium also causes bloating – the uncomfortable feeling that the stomach is swollen and tight. Body parts like hands, feet, and ankles are likely to swell. And feelings of thirst take over due to dehydration. Too much salt before bed can also cause restless sleep. Studies suggest high-salt diets may alter cortisol (stress hormone) levels, which regulate sleep-wake cycles. A recent study by researchers at Vanderbilt University found that reducing daily salt intake by just one teaspoon is as effective as blood pressure medication. They tested high and low-salt diets on hundreds of patients, some of whom had high blood pressure, and found that cutting out a can of Heinz soup each day lowered people's blood pressure by six percent within a week. This reduction was comparable to that of thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, a popular blood pressure medication. 'Obviously we need some sodium—it's essential for life,' Dr Egan said. But 'here we are with an average intake of 3,400 milligrams. 'Now the body has to make a lot of adjustments, but we can get by with very little sodium,' he said, noting 'there's very little danger in this country that most people won't get enough sodium, even if they're eating those fresh foods and not processed foods. 'They'll still—for the most part—get more than sufficient sodium that the body needs,' said Dr. Egan. 'We live in a state of pretty much constant excess.'
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
NHS GP shares life-saving check 'everyone' should do monthly
Dr Shireen explained how to complete the check that everyone is recommended to complete on a regular basis An NHS doctor has highlighted an easy check "we should all be doing" as it could help diagnose cancer and save lives. GP and medical educator Dr Shireen has reminded her TikTok (@doctorshireen) followers to check their breasts following Jessie J's cancer diagnosis. The 37-year-old singer has revealed she's been diagnosed with "early breast cancer" and plans to undergo surgery. Praising the Price Tag singer, Dr Shireen said: "Jessie J has very bravely shared that she's been diagnosed with early breast cancer. "In her video, she says that she's holding on to the fact that it was diagnosed early, and she's absolutely right in doing so. The earlier we diagnose breast cancer, the better the prognosis, i.e., the better the outcome." "I'm a GP and today I'm going to share with you what we should all be doing to ensure if we were to get a breast cancer, it'd be picked up early, and that is self-checking," Dr Shireen shared. "Don't forget that breast cancer can affect men, too. So we recommend everyone to check their breasts once a month at least. It's really important for us to know what's normal so that the second that things might start becoming abnormal, we can pick it up quickly." In her video, the GP explained how to complete the check in a few steps. "The first thing you need to do is look, and it's not just looking at the breasts, it's also looking all the way up to the collarbone and into the axilla. "You're looking at the skin, you're looking for any tethering, any puckering, even any eczematous changes. Looking at the nipple for any inversion, any sign of any potential discharge, any changes like that," she said. Dr Shireen continued: "Next is feeling. So again, when we are palpating, we need to go all the way up and all the way into the axilla area. "But if we think about the breast as a round ball, you want to cut it into four quadrants, and you want to palpate each quadrant separately. So the way to do it is you push on one side, and then you literally just feel the area, and you're feeling for any lumps, any swellings, anything new that you're unsure about." The doctor urged people to speak to a GP if they have any health concerns. "If you do notice any of these changes, please make an appointment to speak to your GP. We refer patients to the urgent breast clinic all of the time, and more than 90% of the time it's nothing. But it is really important that if it is a breast cancer that is picked up early, because prognosis is so dependent on that," she said. The NHS explains that how serious breast cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if the cancer has spread, and your general health. Advice on how to check your breasts is available on the NHS website. It says: "Checking your breasts or chest regularly helps you learn what looks and feels normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes that could be a sign of a condition such as breast cancer. You should try to check your breasts or chest about once a month."
