Baby just avoids dying after his mother gave him too much Bonjela to soothe his dental pain

A baby narrowly avoided death after his mother gave him too much Bonjela to soothe him.

Jessica Vermunt was putting the dose recommended by Bonjela gel doctor on the mouth of her seven-month-old daughter Athena before she was transported to Starship Hospital in Auckland.

"I am currently at the Starship Hospital with my seven-month-old baby who was literally minutes away from death after drinking Bonjela too much," Ms. Vermunt wrote to a parent group on Facebook.

"The active ingredient in Bonjela will turn your baby's blood into acid and cause complete kidney failure.

"The active ingredient in Bonjela will turn your baby's blood into acid and cause complete kidney failure" (stock photo of Bonjela teething gel)

Ms. Vermunt said that Athena had been suffering for a few days, which is why she continued to use the gel.

"She did not stop shouting at us. Over a period of a few days, I slowly gave her a little more, "she told nzherald.co.nz.

The couple was at the doctor four hours before Athena stopped breathing and responding to anything.

Athena was sedated and put on a respirator while the doctors performed blood perfusions and transfusions.

"They diagnosed him with an overdose of salicylate. Salicylate is the active ingredient in Bonjela, "Ms. Vermunt told the publication.

She admits to having used the gel "more than usual", but added that it was to warn other parents to pay attention to what the gel could do.

"I am aware that she had more than usual, but it remains that it could kill your child and there is no information or real warning as to its seriousness," he said. continued Mrs. Vermunt.

"The doctor was aware of how much Bonjel she had and he did not think it was a cause for concern.

"It's because even the doctors have not been informed of the dangerousness of this product."

Mrs Vermunt from Auckland told the horrible incident on a Facebook page for parents

Ms. Vermunt linked the incident to a case in the United Kingdom where, in 2009, a total ban on the product was imposed on persons under 16 years of age.

She said that Bonjela had been banned from stores until the active ingredient, choline salicylate, was eliminated.

The United Kingdom's Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) based its decision on a case report published in the British Medical Journal in June 2008.

They discovered that a 20-month-old child had a suspected case of Reye's Syndrome following the use of Bonjela.

"I beg you, if you use Bonjela for your baby, please, please, please, as little as possible," said Ms. Vermunt ( stock)

Subsequent investigations concluded that this would not cause Reye's syndrome, but that the symptoms were more likely due to the toxicity of salicylates resulting from the overuse of gels.

The MHRA then concluded that the use of this product should not be used by persons under 16 years of age.

The drug's provider, Reckitt Benckiser, said he was trying to contact Ms. Vermunt to investigate the case.

"I beg you, if you use Bonjela for your baby, please, please, please, as little as possible," Ms. Vermunt said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bonjela for a comment.