"Werewolf Syndrome" in boys: what causes minoxidil in the human body

About 17 contracted boys hypertrichosis, a disease known as "werewolf syndrome"Because of the abnormal growth of the hair that results.It is thought that this is due to the ingestion of a drug in a wrong packaging, announced the Spanish Ministry of Health.

The alert jumped in June when some parents began to notice that their children had hair growing, some of them were babies, after supposedly taking what they thought thought. omeprazole, a gastric protector.

An investigation by the authorities revealed that the drugs contained minoxidil, a substance used for hair loss treatments.

Health Minister María Luisa Carcedo told the press that the batches came from a laboratory that "introduced this medicine in a container labeled" omeprazole "and distributed it to pharmacies. yet how does the lab Southern Chemistry, a supplier of active ingredients and medicines installed in the city of Malaga, in the south of the country, mixed with fault Minoxidil with omeprazole.

The 17 affected children are in the regions of Cantabria (north), Andalusia (south) and Valencia (east).

Officials said the effects should be reversed once the boys have stopped taking the already recalled medication. Carcedo added that the laboratory it was closed carefully.

What is minoxidil and what is the cause?

It is one of a kind vasodilator which is usually prescribed for the treatment of androgenic alopecia (permanent hair loss), although it has been used previously to control hypertension. However, given its power, its current use has begun to be prescribed to combat baldness. Because of its effects as vasodilatorit can cause blood pressure drop, fluid retention, tachycardia or kidney damage.

What else can it generate in the body?Although the side effects of this medicine are not common, they can occur. They recommend consulting a doctor if any of the following symptoms occur:

– itching, dryness, peeling, peeling, irritation or burning of the scalp
– weight gain
– inflammation (swelling) of the face, ankles, hands or abdomen
– difficulty breathing (especially at bedtime)
– faster heart rate than usual
chest pain
fear of heights

What is the disease?

Hypertrichosis is a disease rare which consists of the presence of excessive and abnormal hair for the age. It is clbadified as "hereditary or acquired, and generalized or localized". In the case of this article, these reasons are only dealt with by the administration of minoxidil.