The key facts
- A Muscovite in Sanya, Hainan, after taking an herbal preparation from a pharmacy developed swelling of the face, tongue and neck with signs of anaphylactic shock
- At a Chinese hospital she was given an IV drip with an antihistamine and sent home without detailed recommendations
- Which component of the medicine caused the reaction is unknown; earlier, tourists reported intestinal infections and urticaria after vacations in China
What happened in Sanya
A Russian tourist vacationing in the city of Sanya on Hainan Island told SHOT about a severe allergic reaction after a medication from a local pharmacy. According to her, after visiting a café she suffered severe abdominal pain for two days, so she went to a pharmacy near the Pineapple shopping mall. The pharmacist asked about her symptoms and allergies and recommended a granulated herbal preparation.
The reaction and the assistance
Soon after taking the remedy, her condition deteriorated sharply: first one eye swelled up, then the other; about half an hour later an extensive rash appeared on her arms, legs and back, and two large red swellings appeared on her forehead. The most dangerous were the swellings of her tongue and neck: the woman began to suffocate and lose her voice and, according to her, experienced signs of anaphylactic shock. Getting help was not easy — she reported difficulties in dealing with the insurance company. At a Chinese hospital she was given an IV drip with an antihistamine and sent home; according to the victim, the doctors gave no detailed recommendations for further treatment, merely advising her not to buy medications at local pharmacies. Which component of the medicine caused the reaction is still unknown.
Context: similar complaints from tourists
This is not the first such report about trips to China. Life.ru previously wrote that Russian tourists complained of intestinal infections and severe skin rashes after vacations in the PRC: 36-year-old Rinata from St. Petersburg noticed itchy red spots during her trip, but only saw doctors in Bali, when her condition worsened — she was diagnosed with an intestinal infection and urticaria. Another Russian woman living in China reported similar symptoms but did not seek medical care. What these cases have in common is only the general theme of health problems among Russians in China; no connection between them has been confirmed by any checks.
