AVOID: The US Issues Warning on Hemorrhoid Ointment Due to High Lead Content

The US Issues Warning on Hemorrhoid Ointment Due to High Lead Content. Credit | OC Health Care Agency
The US Issues Warning on Hemorrhoid Ointment Due to High Lead Content. Credit | OC Health Care Agency

United States: A warning has been issued against the use and purchase of hemorrhoid ointment from Vietnam by the local health authorities of the United States. The concerns have been raised after the experts discovered that the ointment contains a large number of lead content.

In a cautionary statement issued by the California Department of Public Health, consumers are sternly warned against procuring or applying a hemorrhoid salve originating from Vietnam, which has been identified to harbor perilously elevated levels of lead and has been associated with a fatality in Northern California, according to the ktla.com.

The official advisory from the public health authorities in California stipulates that consumers within the state should abstain from utilizing Cao BôiTrĩCâyThầuDầu, a hemorrhoid remedy hailing from Vietnam and circulated via social media platforms and private vendors in public gatherings such as swap meets.

As per the CDPH, the salve was found to contain a staggering 4% concentration of lead, characterized by health officials as “an exceedingly high and hazardous level,” with a confirmed connection to a lethal case of lead poisoning in Sacramento County.

The US Issues Warning on Hemorrhoid Ointment Due to High Lead Content. Credit | California Department of Public Health
The US Issues Warning on Hemorrhoid Ointment Due to High Lead Content. Credit | California Department of Public Health

Reports from KTLA’s affiliated station KTXL suggest that the affected individual purportedly acquired Cao BôiTrĩCâyThầuDầu through Facebook channels and received it via mail from a relative residing in Vietnam, the reports by ktla.com outlined.

Dr. Tomás J Aragón, the Director and State Public Health Officer of CDPH cautioned, “Consumers should exercise utmost prudence when considering the usage of unregulated health remedies available through online platforms or social media avenues. Many of these products boast unsubstantiated claims of remedial efficacy and undergo insufficient safety evaluations. The indiscriminate application or ingestion of such products can yield grave repercussions.”

State health authorities are collaborating with county-level health agencies to disseminate awareness within Vietnamese communities. Additionally, federal health bodies have been apprised of the situation, as confirmed by CDPH.

Individuals who have either utilized or are presently using Cao BôiTrĩCâyThầuDầu are strongly urged to discontinue usage immediately, seek medical consultation, and promptly undergo blood lead level assessments, emphasized health officials, ktla.com mentioned.

Consumers are instructed to securely package the product in a plastic container and contact 510-620-3620 or email toxoutbreak@cdph.ca.gov for further guidance.

CDPH has instituted a dedicated web portal furnishing resources for individuals seeking clarifications pertaining to the public health advisory, with informational materials accessible in both English and Vietnamese.