Commonly known as a cosmetic treatment, Botox is also used in other medical situations. Many believe Botox, known as botulinum toxin outside of cosmetics, is beneficial in the treatment of cerebral palsy and other conditions, though it is a powerful toxin and is not FDA approved for all uses. Certain cases have shown Botox treatments, used to treat muscle spasms, can lead to serious personal injury or even death.

Most common “off label” uses of Botox are post-stroke muscle tightness, severe underarm sweating, involuntary head movements (Cervical Dystonia), enlarged prostate, tennis elbow, and migraine headaches. Botox is given as an injection for these conditions.

According to the FDA, an unspecified number of deaths has occurred as a result of Botox use, likely because the toxin can migrate beyond the injection location. These toxins interfere with nerve impulses and cause flaccid paralysis of muscles in botulism. A very small amount of the Botox toxin proportional to a body in which it will be injected, is lethal, and particularly dangers when used as treatment for children.

Injuries that have resulted from Botox use include Bell’s Palsy (facial paralysis), systematic muscle pain and weakness (also known as parathesia or Guillain-Barre syndrome), decreased tear production resulting in “dry eye” and permanent cornea damage, long term muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, long term muscle paralysis, impaired swallowing leading to aspiration and pneumonia, lagophthalmos, and respiratory failure.

If your child has been given Botox injections and has been injured, you should contact a good Newport Beach personal injury attorney who can discuss your valuable legal rights.