Some years after an accident left him with vision problems, a 41-year-old man turned to a type of traditional Thai medicine for help. Unfortunately the brand of herbal eye drops he used was contaminated with potentially fatal bacteria.
Consumers should avoid traditional treatments such as the “Doctor Yom Thayai” drops used by the unidentified patient, according to Pathom Sawanpanyalert, Deputy Secretary-General of the Food and Drugs Administration.
“Consumers should only buy medicines which have been properly registered under the laws,” he said. “They should check if the label on the package.”
Those drops, which claimed to contain beneficial herbal medication, infected the patient’s eye who then lost sight entirely. Doctors subsequently removed his eyeball after it started to rot.
A lab analysis discovered Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria that can be fatal. FDA officials said they will seek the manufacturer for prosecution.
No one should buy medication that does not have a proper registration number and identification as an FDA-approved product, Pathom said, because they can cause serious harm.
Questions about potentially counterfeit or illegal drugs can be directed to the FDA at 1556, Khaosod reported.
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