New York officials latest to warn against Botox shots from unlicensed providers

Symptoms ranged from double vision, drooping eyelids and dry mouth to difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath and difficulty raising arms. Photograph: Image Source/Getty Images

Health officials in New York City are the latest in the US to warn against Botox injections from non-medical providers.

In a statement released on Friday, the New York City health department pointed to emerging reports of botulism-like illness as a result of botulinum toxin injections, commonly referred to as Botox. Botulism is a rare but serious disease caused by the same toxin found in the injections that attacks the body’s nerve cells, in turn causing muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing and, at times, death.