Third woman hospitalised with botulism after unregulated anti-wrinkle injection in Sydney

Two more women now been hospitalised with a deadly condition after they were given dodgy anti-wrinkle injections in Sydney, NSW Health confirmed on Saturday.

It comes a day after it emerged a woman was in the intensive care unit, where she is being treated for a suspected case of botulism after she received an unregulated botox shot in the last two weeks from a person at a private home, NSW Health said on Friday.

Two more women are also now being treated for botulism, and suspected botulism, after all three reportedly received unregulated botox shots from the same woman at a Guildford residence on January 11.

One of the women, a 51-year-old, was taken to Auburn Hospital and later transferred to Westmead Hospital where she remains in the intensive care unit, NSW Police and NSW Health said.

NSW Police are working with medical authorities over the cosmetic procedures and investigations are ongoing.

The case has prompted a public health alert, as NSW Health Executive Director Health Protection Dr Jeremy McAnulty said “others could have been exposed”.

McAnulty warned that cosmetic injections should only be administered by authorised practitioners.

“Cosmetic injections, if used incorrectly, could result in serious harm and even death in the most serious of cases,” McAnulty said.

The specific anti-wrinkle product that was used on the three patients is currently under investigation, NSW Health said.

‘We want people to be aware’

Botulism is a condition caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves.

While the toxin-creating bacterium, Clostridium botulinum bacterium, can be ingested in food containing it, it can also enter the body through wounds, leaving intravenous drug users susceptible.

For wound botulism, symptoms can occur between four days and two weeks after the injection.

“In this particular case (in Sydney), investigations are continuing, but we want people to be aware of the symptoms of botulism,” McAnulty 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.”

Symptoms of botulism can include progressive weakness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), drooping eyelids (ptosis), blurred or double vision (diplopia), and difficulty breathing.

Anyone who is experiencing these symptoms is urged to visit their nearest emergency department or call Triple-0.

For those requiring health advice or care when the situation is not life-threatening, NSW Health recommends a free call to Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

“You will speak with a registered nurse. Depending on your condition, the nurse will recommend the right care option for you and connect you with one of the many services available in NSW,” it said.