Some newborn babies have developed an extremist - rarefied condition known as " werewolf syndrome " surveil a major muckle up with drug labeling .
The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products ( AEMPS)confirmedearlier this monththat at least 13 babies have developed " loup-garou syndrome " in Spain over the preceding summer . That number has rise to 17 in recent days . According to the Spanish newspaperEl País , 10babies have been affected in Cantabria , four in Andalusia , and three in the Valencian region .
The syndrome is medically known as hypertrichosis , a conditioncharacterizedby an abnormal amount of hair growing . Although some case are relatively mild , it can lead in long tomentum growing all over the eubstance and face , hence the soubriquet “ werewolf syndrome ” .
The babies were give a syrup hold omeprazole , a drug used to treat colic by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach . However , an analysis by AEMPS notice that the convention also contained considerable levels of minoxidil , a medicine used for the treatment of alopecia and male - pattern balding by stimulating hair increase .
Hypertrichosisis incredibly uncommon with less than 50 cases officially documented worldwide . The cause of hypertrichosis is unclear , although it ’s thought to be associated with a transmissible disorder , malnutrition , the presence of a malignant tumour , or – like this sheath – the effect of a drug .
So far , it look like excessive fuzz growth is the only upshot of the drug ; however , the stirred babies will have to receive further medication evaluations until they ’re commit the all - clear .
Official AEMPS documentsshow that the Málaga - based pharmaceutic fellowship Farma - Química Sur buy at least 22 of the tainted piles from Smilax Laboratories Limited in India . While the drug has since been sequester from circulation , authorities are now investigating whereabouts in the supply string this mishap occurred .
“ The original payload of bulk omeprazole from India was analyzed and the results showed that it was in staring stipulation . The job was when it was divided into small pot that were later also trade in mass . There was a serious disarray in the operation , ” an unnamed source from AEMPS toldEl País .
“ It ’s not that Prilosec was mixed with minoxidil , but rather that the parcel leaflet said one thing and the drugstore another . ”
