Teething Gel Leaves 1-Year-Old Baby In Hospital For 2 Months

A woman from Toukley, NSW Central Coast, Australia, has gone on record about how her one-year-old son ended up spending two months in the hospital after suffering an adverse reaction to a popular teething gel.

Skye Elliott has been giving her son Zander Howe the over-the-counter gel for pain relief for about six months when he fell ill, reported News.Com.

The baby was airlifted to the Children's Hospital at Westmead after Elliott found him unresponsive. He suffered from seizures and had extremely low blood sugar levels.

"I noticed Zander's lips were starting to turn blue and I couldn't get a response out of him," Eliot told 9News. He was diagnosed with chronic salicylate poisoning, a rare and dangerous side effect of the active ingredient – choline salicylate –in several teething gels. "I felt so guilty, I felt horrible because I was the one who had given it to him," she added.

According to NSW Poisons Information Centre, symptoms of acute salicylate poisoning include vomiting, ringing in the ears and dizziness. Hyperventilation also occurs in some cases.

"Severe salicylate poisoning affects the pH of the body and that can cause a number of significant complications including seizures, coma, kidney damage and even death," Genevieve Adamo from the NSW Poisons Information Centre was quoted as saying in the 9News report.

The child reportedly spent two months in hospital before returning to his home. Now past her ordeal, Elliott warned parents not to believe a product is safe, just because it's widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies. "Just make sure you do your research because it's so scary," she told the local media outlet.

In a statement issued to 9News, Bonjela Australia, the maker of Bonjela Teething and Mouth Ulcer Gel, said the product “meets Australian guidelines and standards, including registration with the Therapeutic Goods Administration.”

“The health and safety of all Australians is our top priority. For over 40 years, Bonjela has been trusted by Australian families to manage their baby’s teething pain,” the spokesperson further said in the statement.

Bonjela reminded consumers to always follow instructions when using any medicine, including its product. These include washing your hands and applying enough product to cover the index finger's tip (about a pea-sized amount). Moreover, the recommended dose can be repeated after 3 hours if needed.

The statement concluded that a warning on the packet reads: “Do not apply more often than once every 3 hours. No more than 6 doses should be given in 24 hours. Do not exceed recommended dose. Excessive or prolonged use can be harmful. If symptoms persist, seek medical or dental advice.”