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| Three people in hospital in Sydney after suspected botulism cases linked to anti-wrinkle injections | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Woman in intensive care as NSW Health urges community to only receive cosmetic injections from authorised practitioners | |
| A Sydney woman is in intensive care and a further two people are being treated in hospital with suspected cases of botulism linked to unregulated home anti-wrinkle injections. | |
| The case prompted New South Wales Health to issue an alert urging the community to only receive cosmetic anti-wrinkle injections from authorised practitioners or risk “serious harm and … death”. | The case prompted New South Wales Health to issue an alert urging the community to only receive cosmetic anti-wrinkle injections from authorised practitioners or risk “serious harm and … death”. |
| The 51-year-old woman received the unregulated anti-wrinkle injection at a home in Guildford on 11 January, NSW police alleged. | The 51-year-old woman received the unregulated anti-wrinkle injection at a home in Guildford on 11 January, NSW police alleged. |
| She was admitted to Auburn hospital on Friday before being transferred to Westmead hospital, where she remained in a stable condition on Saturday morning receiving intensive care. | She was admitted to Auburn hospital on Friday before being transferred to Westmead hospital, where she remained in a stable condition on Saturday morning receiving intensive care. |
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| A spokesperson for NSW police, which was working with the Health Care Complaints Commission and NSW Health on the incident, said inquiries continued into the case. | A spokesperson for NSW police, which was working with the Health Care Complaints Commission and NSW Health on the incident, said inquiries continued into the case. |
| “Police are working with medical authorities after a complaint was made to Cumberland police area command concerning a cosmetic procedure reportedly conducted at a home in Guildford,” police said. | “Police are working with medical authorities after a complaint was made to Cumberland police area command concerning a cosmetic procedure reportedly conducted at a home in Guildford,” police said. |
| Botulism is caused when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves and causes muscle weakness in the face, mouth and throat. | Botulism is caused when a toxin attacks the body’s nerves and causes muscle weakness in the face, mouth and throat. |
| Symptoms can appear for up to two weeks after injections, NSW Health advised, and include worsening weakness, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred vision and trouble breathing. | Symptoms can appear for up to two weeks after injections, NSW Health advised, and include worsening weakness, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred vision and trouble breathing. |
| Dr Jeremy McAnulty, the executive director of health protection at NSW Health, said the case was a grim reminder of the potential side effects of unregulated cosmetic injections. | Dr Jeremy McAnulty, the executive director of health protection at NSW Health, said the case was a grim reminder of the potential side effects of unregulated cosmetic injections. |
| “Cosmetic injections, if used incorrectly, could result in serious harm and even death in the most serious of cases,” he said. | “Cosmetic injections, if used incorrectly, could result in serious harm and even death in the most serious of cases,” he said. |
| “Botulism, although rare, can be fatal, which is why it is so important that anyone receiving cosmetic injections does so under the supervision of an appropriately registered health practitioner. | “Botulism, although rare, can be fatal, which is why it is so important that anyone receiving cosmetic injections does so under the supervision of an appropriately registered health practitioner. |
| “In this particular case, investigations are continuing, but we want people to be aware of the symptoms of botulism as others could have been exposed.” | “In this particular case, investigations are continuing, but we want people to be aware of the symptoms of botulism as others could have been exposed.” |
| Market researchers Grand View Research valued the Australian facial injectables industry at $4.3bn in 2021, with a projected growth of more than 25% every year until 2030. | Market researchers Grand View Research valued the Australian facial injectables industry at $4.3bn in 2021, with a projected growth of more than 25% every year until 2030. |
| Injections require a valid prescription from an authorised prescriber such as a doctor, but those administering the treatment do not need to complete specific cosmetic injectables training beyond their generalised health qualification. This can include doctors, dentists and nurse practitioners. | Injections require a valid prescription from an authorised prescriber such as a doctor, but those administering the treatment do not need to complete specific cosmetic injectables training beyond their generalised health qualification. This can include doctors, dentists and nurse practitioners. |