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A baby nearly died after his mother applied too much toothache gel.
Jessica Vermunt was putting the recommended dose of gel into her seven-month-old daughter Athena's mouth before she was rushed to the hospital.
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“I am currently in the hospital with my seven-month-old baby who was literally minutes away from dying after having too much gel,” Jessica wrote in a Facebook parenting group.
“The active ingredient in the gel caused complete kidney failure.”
Jessica said Athena had been in pain for a few days and that's why she continued using the gel.
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"She kept screaming at us. Over the course of a few days, I slowly gave her a little more," she said.
The baby stopped breathing and responding to anything.
Athena was sedated and placed on a breathing machine while doctors administered blood infusions and transfusions.
They diagnosed a salicylate overdose. Salicylate is the active ingredient in the gel," the mother said.
She admitted to using the gel “more than usual,” but said the goal was to warn other parents to be careful about what the gel could do.
“I’m aware she had more than normal, but this has the potential to kill your child and there’s no real information or warnings about the severity of it in the prescription,” Jessica continued.
The doctor was aware of the amount of toothache gel she had put on and didn't think it was a cause for concern.
“This is because even doctors had not been informed about the dangers of this product.”
Jessica linked the incident to the case in the UK, where a total ban on the product for children under 16 was issued in 2009.
She said the brand's gel (Bonjela) was banned from shelves until the active ingredient choline salicylate was removed.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) based its decision on a published case report.
They discovered that a 20-month-old child had a suspected case of Reye's syndrome (a rare and serious disease that causes mental confusion, brain swelling and liver damage) after using the gel.
Further investigation concluded that it would not cause Reye's syndrome, but the symptoms were more likely due to salicylate toxicity from overuse of gels.
The MHRA has therefore concluded that this product should not be used by anyone under the age of 16.
The medicine supplier said he was trying to contact Jessica to investigate the case.
“I’m begging you, if you use (Bonjela) gel for your baby, please, please, please use the smallest amount possible,” Jessica said.
As with all medications, parents should use oral teething and mouth ulcer gels only according to package directions and should speak to a healthcare professional if they have any concerns.
