Warning against illegal teething products

NEW YORK, July 28 (UPI) -- The New York City health department is urging parents to beware of illegal teething products and other illegal health remedies.

Nancy Clark, assistant commissioner for the health department's environmental disease prevention bureau, said the warning is in response to a reported case of potassium bromide poisoning in an infant, associated with the use of a locally purchased teething product called Monell's Teething Cordial or Cordial de Monell para la Denticion.

Potassium bromide is a potent sedative found in Cordial de Monell, a product made in the Dominican Republic.

Immediate effects from potassium bromide ingestion may include sedation, troubled breathing, low blood pressure and coma, Clark said.

The product is sold illegally in New York City and is typically used for teething discomfort, colic and gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, constipation and vomiting in infants, Clark said.

"Illegal teething products can be dangerous for children," Clark said in a statement. "If your child has consumed any illegal teething product, whether bought locally, brought into the United States by a family member, or purchased over the Internet, call the Poison Control Center at 212-POISONS or 212 764-7667."