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Popular teething gel left one-year-old in hospital for two months

A NSW mother has shared her horror at discovering an item she had given her son to soothe him had been making him desperately ill.

NSW baby hospitalised after reaction to teething gel

A NSW mother has shared her horror at discovering an over-the-counter teething gel had made her one-year-old baby desperately ill.

One-year-old Zander Howe was airlifted to hospital recent after his mum Skye Elliott found him unresponsive with his lips turning blue. He was also suffering seizures and had extremely low blood sugar levels.

At The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the Toukley woman was told her son had chronic salicylate poisoning, a rare side effect to the active ingredient – choline salicylate – found in several teething gels.

Bonjela Australia said the product, which retails for around $10, “meets Australian guidelines and standards, including registration with the Therapeutic Goods Administration,” in a statement to news.com.au.

Symptoms of acute salicylate poisoning can present as vomiting, ringing in the ears and dizziness and even hyperventilation, the NSW Poisons Information Centre states.

“I felt so guilty, I felt horrible because I was the one who had given it to him,” Ms Elliott told 9News.

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A popular teething gel put baby Zander Howe in hospital for two months. Picture: 9News
A popular teething gel put baby Zander Howe in hospital for two months. Picture: 9News
His mum Skye Elliott said she felt incredibly ‘guilty’ as she had been giving him the gel for six months. Picture: 9News
His mum Skye Elliott said she felt incredibly ‘guilty’ as she had been giving him the gel for six months. Picture: 9News

Zander had been exposed to a popular brand of teething gel for six months before he suddenly became ill – and spent a total of two months in hospital before returning home, an ordeal Ms Elliott described as “so scary”.

Bonjela Australia said the “safety and quality of our products are of upmost importance”.

“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 said.

“Consumers should always follow instructions when using any medicine, including Bonjela.”

These include washing your hands and applying enough product to cover the tip of the index finger (about a pea-sized amount).

The recommended dose can be repeated after 3 hours if needed.
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.”

It can be bought over the counter in supermarkets. Picture: 9News
It can be bought over the counter in supermarkets. Picture: 9News

Teething gels are available at many supermarkets and chemists without a prescription. Those containing choline salicylate are required to display a warning on the product labels, according to the TGA website.

They are often used by parents to relieve young children of pain and discomfort when new teeth begin to emerge through the gums, which usually starts at about six months of age.

According to a report in The Conversation, teething gels that contain choline salicylate, an anti-inflammatory similar to aspirin, can increase the risk of liver disease and brain injury if the child eats too much.

Experts have suggested the best remedies for suffering bubs are chew toys such as rubber toys, cold things to help with numbing and massaging their sore gums.

Continue the conversation @RebekahScanlan | rebekah.scanlan@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/popular-teething-gel-left-oneyearold-in-hospital-for-two-months/news-story/9771c6ea7e58149df51c03eee1f75681