Illinois Department of Public Health Issues Alert After Botulism-Like Symptoms Reported
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued a Health Alert to provide awareness of a cluster of illnesses being investigated in Illinois, as well as three other states, following administration of botulinum toxin products, suspected to be administered in non-medical settings for cosmetic purposes.
IDPH is working with the LaSalle County Health Department to investigate a cluster of illnesses in persons who had received botulinum toxin injections outside of a clinical setting for cosmetic purposes. These individuals experienced botulism-like symptoms such as blurred/double vision, droopy face, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and hoarseness. On April 3, 2024, IDPH received an Epi-X notification about three other states investigating reports of patients with botulism-like symptoms after receiving injections of presumed botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes.
Information collected to date from these investigations is raising concerns about the use of counterfeit and unknown botulinum toxin products, administration by unlicensed personnel, and/or improper use in non-medical settings such as homes or without medical oversight.
The IDPH requests immediate reporting of any patients with similar clinical presentations following botulinum toxin products injections to the local health department.
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