The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is poised to alert doctors nationwide about fake Botox injections that have already hospitalized at least four people.
The CDC said Wednesday that it's coordinating a “multistate outbreak investigation into a few botulism-like illnesses in several states" caused by botulinum toxin injections, commonly called Botox, that weren't given in a medical office.
Health departments in Illinois and Tennessee have reported cases possibly linked to counterfeit Botox, with two people in each state hospitalized. Two other cases were reported in Tennessee but weren’t serious enough to warrant hospitalization.
Additionally, on Thursday NBC News confirmed four cases in Kentucky and a suspected case in Washington state. In Kentucky, two individuals were hospitalized, although all four are now recovering, according to the Department of Public Health.
In Colorado, Denver health officials are investigating a case of botulism-like illness. An unlicensed provider in Adams county injected a patient with what was purportedly botulinum toxin, the county's public health department said.
Clostridium botulinum is a nerve toxin that relaxes facial muscles that would otherwise cause wrinkles. Botox is generally considered safe, but too much in the wrong places can be damaging, according to the CDC.
Dr. Adam Friedman, a dermatologist and professor and the chair of dermatology at George Washington University, said it’s difficult to ensure quality of products that don’t have reputable sources.
“You’re spinning the wheel of terror when it comes to these counterfeit products,” Friedman said. “If something seems too good to be true, chances are it is too good to be true.”
Warnings nationwide about medical procedures at unregulated med spas are rising. The Illinois patients received injections from a nurse “who was performing work outside her authority,” according to the state’s Public Health Department.
Patients “reported symptoms similar to botulism such as blurred/double vision, droopy face, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, hoarse voice following injection with either Botox or a possibly counterfeit version of the product,” Illinois public health authorities said.
