Hong Kong woman in critical condition after receiving botox injections in mainland China
- Patient, 57, displayed symptoms of slurred speech, swallowing difficulty and drooping eyelids after treatment
A woman in Hong Kong is in critical condition after receiving botox injections at a beauty parlour in mainland China twice, leaving her with speech and swallowing problems.
The Department of Health said on Friday the 57-year-old female patient started showing symptoms of slurred speech, swallowing difficulty and ptosis, or drooping eyelid, on May 18.
It added the woman’s records showed a clean bill of health previously.
The woman on May 22 sought help from the accident and emergency services at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam, but left on the same day against medical advice.
As her condition deteriorated, she was admitted to the same hospital the next day and discharged on May 25.
The woman once again sought help from public health services on June 2 and was admitted to Tseung Kwan O Hospital due to “shortness of breath, choking and limb weakness”. She was transferred to the intensive care unit three days later.
“She is now in critical condition. The clinical diagnosis was suspected iatrogenic botulism,” the department spokesman said.
