Baby Orajel and Methemoglobinemia

If your baby was diagnosed with the rare but serious condition methemoglobinemia and you used a teething product such as Baby Orajel, Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel or Orabase, you may be entitled to financial compensation. To learn more contact the product liability lawyers at Flood Law Group. Our attorneys are available to review possible Baby Orajel and methemoglobinemia cases for families across the country.

Baby Orajel Linked to Methemoglobinemia

In May 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer update warning that products containing benzocaine, a local anesthetic, pose a particular hazard to young children. According to the FDA alert, parents need to be careful with the products they use to comfort their teething babies. This is particularly true for children under 2 years of age.

The FDA reported that using gels and liquids containing benzocaine to numb the gums in teething babies can lead to a rare but sometimes fatal condition called methemoglobinemia. The ailment causes a reduction in oxygen in the blood. When it is very severe, the disorder can cause death, according to an FDA pharmacist, Mary Ghods.

The FDA first issued a warning about the problem in 2006. Since then, 29 cases of benzocaine gel-related cases have been reported to the agency. Of the 29, 19 episodes occurred in children. And, 15 of those 19 occurred in children younger than 2 years old said FDA pharmacist Kellie Taylor.

The FDA issued another warning in April 2011. According to Taylor, the agency is especially concerned about over-the-counter use of the gels in products such as Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel and Orabase.

Signs and Symptoms

Parents may not always recognize the first signs and symptoms of methemoglobinemia, which are similar to symptoms of many other childhood conditions. Problems may become more obvious when the condition worsens, but by then, the baby's health may be compromised.

Mothers and fathers need to be aware of symptoms after using benzocaine-containing products. These symptoms include:

• Skin, lips, or nail beds that are blue
• Difficulty catching the breath
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Headache
• Light-headedness
• Rapid heartbeat

According to Ghods, symptoms can occur within minutes to hours after benzocaine use and may show up after only one use or after a number of uses. Parents of a child exhibiting these symptoms after being given a benzocaine-containing product should call 911 right away.

Benzocaine can also have adverse effects on adults, especially if they have heart disease, smoke, or have asthma or other breathing problems such as bronchitis and emphysema.

The FDA suggests parents try the following methods to help alleviate pain in teething babies:

• Give the baby a teething ring that has been cooled in the refrigerator
• Rub the child's gum gently with a finger
• Contact your health care provider for further suggestions

Was Your Baby Diagnosed with Methemoglobinemia After Using Baby Orajel?

If your child was found to have methemoglobinemia after using Baby Orajel or another similar product, you should contact a lawyer with the Flood Law Group. The firm's attorneys are familiar with this condition and are investigating potential claims on behalf of parents whose children have been diagnosed by this awful side effect.

Sources:

http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm306062.htm