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CAHAN Disease Notification - Fatality from Lead Poisoning Linked to Use of Hemorrhoid Ointment from Vietnam

CD News Alert

The California Department of Public Health is issuing this Health Advisory to notify health care providers, laboratories and public health departments that a woman in Sacramento developed severe lead poisoning and died in March 2024 after using a hemorrhoid ointment from Vietnam called, Cao Bôi Trĩ Cây Thầu Dầu. The woman purchased the product on Facebook and a relative in Vietnam shipped it to the U.S. Testing of the product found that it contained 4% lead (39,000 ppm), a highly dangerous amount of lead. If healthcare providers have patients that have used this hemorrhoid ointment, urge them to stop using it and order a venous blood lead level (BLL) test immediately. Contact California Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for clinical guidance on lead poisoning. See Health-Based Guidelines for BLL in Adults for specific recommendations based on the patient's BLL results.

You will find the full CDPH Health Advisory here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/CAHAN/Fatality-from-Lead-Poisoning-Linked-to-Use-of-Hemorrhoid-Ointment-from-Vietnam.aspx