Officials in California have issued a public health alert after a woman in Sacramento developed severe lead poisoning and died after using a hemorrhoid ointment from Vietnam called Cao Bôi Tr Cây Thầu Dầu.
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In a Facebook post shared on March 29, the Calaveras County Public Health announced a recall of the product. The post read, “The State Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch (CLPPB) urgently alerts you to a significant health risk associated with a Vietnamese herbal ointment called ‘CAO BOI TRI CAY THAU DAU.'”
The recall announcement added, “This product, marketed primarily through Facebook groups in Vietnamese as a ‘miracle’ treatment for hemorrhoids with suggested intra-rectal application, has been linked to a serious case of adult lead poisoning.” The agency then listed various bullet points about what they knew about the product and lead poisoning case.
- Extremely High Lead Content: Laboratory analysis of “CAO BOI TRI CAY THAU DAU” has revealed an extremely high lead content, posing a severe risk of lead poisoning to users.
- Product Marketing: The product is promoted for the treatment of hemorrhoids but is hazardous to health due to its lead content.
- Product Availability: The product has been purchased on Facebook and mailed to the U.S. by a friend or relative in Vietnam. Sellers in Vietnam cannot ship the product directly to the U.S., but it is unclear whether this product can be purchased from informal marketplaces in the U.S.
- Notification: The State Food and Drug Branch has been notified, and a comprehensive public announcement is forthcoming. Our priority is the health and safety of our community, especially our children, who are most vulnerable to the effects of lead poisoning.
- Cease Use Immediately: If you or someone you know uses “CAO BOI TRI CAY THAU DAU,” we strongly advise discontinuing its use immediately and consulting a healthcare provider for lead testing.”
Since then, the California Department of Public Health, along with the Orange County Health Care Agency, have revealed that a woman developed “severe” lead poisoning before her death. They further warned, “Due to the risk of lead poisoning, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) urges users of the Vietnamese hemorrhoid ointment called Cao Bôi Tr Cây Thầu Dầu (Castor Oil Hemorrhoid Extract) to immediately stop using the ointment and to get their blood tested for lead.”
It’s reported that testing that has since been conducted determined that the hemorrhoid ointment used by the California woman contains 4% lead, which health officials say is “a highly dangerous” amount. Although the identity of the woman has not been revealed, health officials say she lived in Sacramento.
The California Department of Public Health also said, “The woman purchased the ointment on Facebook, and a relative in Vietnam mailed it to her in the U.S. It is unclear if people can directly buy this ointment in the U.S.”
Additionally, the health agency has also shared symptoms of lead poisoning, noting they vary, but adding that exposure to any amount of lead is harmful. Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe and include the following:
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Fatigue/Feeling tired or sleepy
- Headache
- Irritability or mood swings
- Muscle or joint pain
- Nausea/Decreased appetite
- Pins and needles, tingling, burning, or numbness in the hands.
- Stomach cramps
- Seizures, coma, and death
- Tremors
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