An 11-year-old with a dairy allergy died of a severe allergic reaction after unknowingly using a new prescription toothpaste containing a milk protein.
Denise Saldate from California has been dealing with her dairy allergy since she was diagnosed as a 1-year-old. Her mother, Monique, has been helping keep track of everything she consumes. Unfortunately, all their worst nightmares came true when a prescription toothpaste ended up including a dairy ingredient that caused a rapid anaphylactic reaction.
Deadly Allergen In Toothpaste
According to Allergic Living, the mother and daughter went to the dentist on Thursday, April 4. To treat spots on her teeth and strengthen tooth enamel, Denise was prescribed medicated toothpaste by the brand MI Paste One.
Since Denise was a little girl, she and Monique have been diligently checking toothpaste labels for traces of milk and they've never found any. Neither suspected this time to be any different, although the toothpaste tube include a list of ingredients and cautionary wording.
When the pair went home in the evening, Denise started brushing her teeth with her new toothpaste. Her older sister, who was in the room with her, recalls that she began crying almost immediately and went to her mother.
"She said, 'I think I'm having an allergic reaction to the toothpaste,' and her lips were already blue," Monique says, explaining that her other daughter called 911, while she placed her daughter on the bed and administered an EpiPen and asthma inhaler. "She was saying, 'Mommy, I can't breathe.' I was saying, 'I love you, yes, you can."
After talking to the 911 operator, Monique also began compressions on Denise until the paramedics arrived and took over.
Mother Warns Other Parents
If there's one thing that Monique wants other parents to take away from their family's experience, it's that parents need to stay extremely diligent for their children.
"Read everything. Don't get comfortable, just because you've been managing for several years." Monique explains. "You can't get comfortable or be embarrassed or afraid to ask and ensure that ingredients are okay. Be that advocate for your child."
While the tragedy is a parent's worst fear, pediatric allergist and associate professor at Nationwide Children's Hospital Dr. David Stukus says that this is an extremely rare case. In fact, this is the first such situation that he's come across.
"There are food proteins in many different medications and nonfood products," he explains in CNN. "But by and large, the type of food and the amount of food is not nearly enough to cause any reaction in the vast majority of people with food allergies."
Stukus points out that people with food allergies are more likely to be struck by lightning than die from an allergic reaction. However, it's important to be careful, as Monique warns other parents.
