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Werewolf syndrome case in Spain: Prosecutor drops investigation into children's medication mix-up
Children across three regions of Spain developed excessive hair growth after a pharmacy error, but the case may now be closed
The Malaga Prosecutor’s Office has requested the provisional dismissal of a high-profile case in which 21 children developed hypertrichosis, also known as ‘Werewolf syndrome’, after being mistakenly given hair-growth medication instead of a common stomach treatment.The incident, which first made headlines back in 2019, saw children in Cantabria, Valencia and Andalucía experience abnormal and excessive hair growth after being given minoxidil instead of omeprazole. The mix-up, later traced to a pharmaceutical company error, left infants as young as two months old covered in thick body hair.
The children were diagnosed with hypertrichosis, a rare condition which causes rapid and widespread hair growth. It’s not life-threatening, but can be extremely distressing. While the condition is usually cosmetic, it can have psychological impacts for those affected.
According to the prosecutor’s report, the hair has gradually fallen out in all cases once the treatment was stopped. None of the minors have suffered lasting side effects and only required basic medical care. The Public Prosecutor has since ruled that the incident amounts to a minor injury offence, which Spanish law does not prosecute in cases of negligence. Therefore, the case should be dismissed, they argue.
However, while the prosecution has not filed charges against the four individuals who had been under investigation, including employees and management of the pharmaceutical company, some of the families, particularly in Cantabria and Castellón, have reportedly chosen to pursue their own legal action.
The company involved had the correct licences to handle both medications, and although the exact point of failure in the production process is still unclear, the evidence suggests the mix-up occurred during the packaging of three batches.
The incident first came to light in December 2019, when a series of complaints led to an investigation. Since then, health authorities across the affected regions have continued to monitor the children. After two years, no medium-term complications have been reported.
Image: Oscar Ochoa/Unsplash
