American Friends of Rambam Medical Center

09/03/2026

From Social Media Advertisement to Medical Emergency

September 3, 2026 – Injectable medications have become increasingly popular for weight loss. However, many unregulated supplements and formulas remain widely available online and over the counter, and some may cause serious or even life-threatening side effects.

Illegal manufacturers repeatedly repackage and market dangerous drugs under changing names, often presenting them as “natural.” Some unregulated weight-loss products may contain undeclared substances such as sibutramine or amphetamine-like stimulants. Although their names and packaging change, the dangers remain.

Fifteen-year-old Efrat*, from Northern Israel came across a social media advertisement for an appetite suppressant that promised dramatic weight loss of up to 14 kilograms in just 20 days. After ordering the product and taking a few tablets, she developed heart palpitations, sweating, a rapid heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. She arrived at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) for emergency care.

“A teenage girl was hospitalized in our department recently after taking a weight-loss drug that she had purchased through social media,” explains Professor Ram Weiss, Director of Pediatrics A and an expert in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. “She came to Rambam with heart palpitations, sweating, and symptoms resembling a panic attack.”

The medical team suspected that the pills Efrat had taken contained sibutramine and sent them to the Ministry of Health for examination. Efrat has since been discharged and is doing well.

“Manufacturers continually attempt to market illegal and dangerous drugs that pose a serious threat to the health and lives of those who take them,” warns Professor Weiss. “People must exercise caution and avoid these drugs.”

Rambam urges anyone considering a weight-loss regimen to seek professional medical guidance and never purchase unregulated products advertised on social media or from unreliable sources.

*Name changed to protect the patient’s privacy.

Based on a Hebrew language item screened on Channel 13

08/31/2026

The Falafel That Led to Hospitalization

August 31, 2026 – Every region and culture has its own unique cuisine. Falafel is eaten throughout much of the Middle East, but across Israel’s southern border, a different recipe for this popular food recently led to two separate medical emergencies.

The G6PD enzyme protects red blood cells from oxidative damage. In people with G6PD deficiency, certain triggers, including fava beans (also known as broad beans)—the main ingredient in Egyptian falafel known as ta’ameya—can cause hemolysis, the rapid breakdown of red blood cells. This can lead to severe anemia, jaundice, and dark urine.

Within 10 days of returning from family vacations in Egypt, two young boys arrived at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) with acute hemolysis and low hemoglobin levels. Both came from families with a history of G6PD deficiency, sometimes referred to as “fava bean sensitivity,” but neither family realized that, unlike Israeli falafel, which is typically made from chickpeas, Egyptian falafel is made primarily from fava beans.

The first of the boys to be treated was a 12-year-old boy with jaundice, dark urine, and a significant drop in hemoglobin. Although the family had a history of G6PD deficiency, they did not know whether the boy himself had the deficiency.

After looking at the child’s history, the treating physician, Dr. Raizy Gruda-Sussman from the Joan & Sanford Weill Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, began investigating the possible cause. “We investigated every possibility, and then I asked him what he had eaten,” adds Gruda-Sussman. The family was adamant that he had not eaten fava beans during the trip, but said they had eaten falafel.

Gruda-Sussman did a quick check using ChatGPT and learned that Egyptian falafel is made from fava beans rather than the chickpeas typically used in Israeli falafel. “The family simply didn’t know,” she says.

The medical team carefully monitored the boy as his condition improved. A few days later, he was well enough to go home.

Just days later, an eight-year-old boy arrived at Rambam with similar, potentially dangerous symptoms.

“The family knew their son was sensitive to fava beans and carefully avoided exposing him to them,” says Gruda-Sussman. “However, they, too, were unaware that the ta’ameya they ate in Egypt was made from fava beans.” The boy required a blood transfusion.

His two-year-old brother had also eaten a small amount of ta’ameya and presented with a lower-than-normal hemoglobin level. However, since he had eaten a relatively small amount, he did not require hospitalization.

The reaction to fava beans can be particularly significant in young children with G6PD deficiency. In more severe cases, the medical literature describes more serious complications associated with significant hemolysis, although most episodes resolve with appropriate treatment.

“It is surprising to treat two cases like these within such a short period,” notes Gruda-Sussman. “It is important to know what our food contains, particularly when there is a known sensitivity that can put you at risk.” She emphasizes the importance of checking ingredients, particularly when traveling, as familiar foods may be prepared quite differently from one country to another.

08/26/2026

Wild Plant Poisoning Sends Two Men to Rambam ICU

August 26, 2026 – Although they belong to the same genus, tree to***co and cultivated to***co differ significantly in appearance, chemistry, and use. When mistaken for an edible wild plant and consumed, tree to***co can cause severe, potentially life-threatening poisoning, as demonstrated by two recent cases treated at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam).

Recently, two Thai foreign workers in their 40s were admitted to Rambam with acute poisoning after ingesting tree to***co (Nicotiana glauca), a common wild plant found throughout Israel.

The two men apparently picked the plant and prepared it as a soup. Within hours of eating it, they developed symptoms of acute poisoning. Fortunately, they brought the plant with them to the hospital where it was quickly identified.

“We have never encountered a poisoning case like this,” says Osnat Aspis, Head Nurse of Rambam's Division of Critical Care Medicine. “Because the patients brought the plant with them, we were able to identify it quickly and begin appropriate treatment without delay.”

Although tree to***co poisoning is rare, other people in Israel have previously required medical treatment after consuming the plant.

One of the patients remains in serious condition. After developing respiratory failure, he was sedated, intubated, and placed on mechanical ventilation. The second patient improved and was transferred to an internal medicine department for observation.

Tree to***co (Nicotiana glauca) is the only to***co species that grows wild in Israel. It grows throughout almost every region of the country, commonly appearing in open fields, vacant urban lots, construction sites, and near garbage dumps. Unlike cultivated to***co (Nicotiana tabacum), a non-woody crop grown commercially for its nicotine-rich leaves, tree to***co is a woody shrub or small tree whose principal toxic alkaloid is anabasine.

“Anabasine acts similarly to nicotine,” explains Dr. Yael Lurie, Director of the National Poison Information Center at Rambam. "Ingesting any part of the plant may cause nausea and vomiting, excessive salivation and sweating, dizziness, headache, tremors, fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate, muscular weakness, breathing difficulties, and, in severe cases, seizures or loss of consciousness."

“The severity of poisoning depends on the quantity consumed. Severe poisonings have been documented, and although uncommon, fatalities have been reported,” says Dr. Lurie. “There is no specific antidote. Treatment focuses on supporting vital organ function until the body metabolizes and eliminates the toxin.”

“Casual contact with the plant should not pose a risk of poisoning. However, we strongly urge the public not to pick or prepare teas or meals from wild plants unless they have been positively identified by qualified experts,” emphasizes Dr. Lurie. “In any suspected poisoning, it is important to bring the suspected source to the emergency department whenever possible. Because these patients brought the plant with them, our advisers—a volunteer team of expert botanists—quickly identified the tree to***co.”

08/24/2026

32 Years Later, Father and Son Share a Remarkably Similar Story

August 24, 2026 – Recently, a family found themselves at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel, witnessing their family history repeat itself under remarkably similar wartime circumstances.

Twenty-one-year-old Avi* always wanted to serve in the IDF Combat Engineering Corps. A short while ago, while serving with comrades from the elite Yahalom Unit in Southern Lebanon, he was seriously wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack. He was evacuated to Rambam, where his parents, Haim and Michal, his two younger sisters, and his grandmother gathered outside his room.

Thirty-two years ago, a remarkably similar story unfolded when Avi's father, Haim Weiss, was injured in Lebanon and airlifted to Rambam. At the time, his anxious mother was by his side, encouraging her son throughout his recovery.

Now, history has repeated itself. Haim and his mother are again at Rambam, this time while Avi is treated in the hospital’s Department of Critical Care Medicine.

“I was wounded in Lebanon in 1994 as part of a paratrooper unit operating near the village of Sujud,” recalls Haim. “I was evacuated by helicopter to Rambam, and now my mother and I are here again.”

For Avi's grandmother, the return to Rambam brought back memories of the difficult days she spent at the hospital after Haim was wounded. More than 30 years later, she has again found herself at Rambam, this time hoping for her grandson’s recovery. Although concerned for him, she is confident, “My grandson is strong, and he will get through this.”

According to Haim, Avi lost a significant amount of blood and his life was in immediate danger. He credits the rapid medical response in the field with saving the lives of his son and two other soldiers from the Yahalom Unit who were wounded in the attack. Praising the Rambam medical team, he too expressed hope that his son would gradually recover.

For a family that has already experienced a similar ordeal, the days ahead are painfully familiar. All are aware that Avi faces a challenging road to recovery.

Two other soldiers wounded in the same attack were also airlifted and admitted to Rambam. We wish them a speedy and full recovery.

*Name changed to protect his identity

Based on an original Hebrew article that first appeared on Ynet

08/06/2026

Seeing the Future: Innovation, Impact and the Future of Neuroscience

On Thursday, July 30, American Friends of Rambam hosted an event at the Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach, New York.

Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and w**e before an engaging interview-style conversation between Rambam Health Care Campus’ Director General and CEO, Dr. Michal Mekel and the Hampton Synagogue’s Senior Rabbi, Rabbi Marc Schneier.

The discussion offered an inside look at Rambam’s vital role as Northern Israel’s 1,100-bed academic medical center, the region’s only Level 1 trauma center, and home to the world’s largest fortified underground emergency hospital. Dr. Mekel shared powerful firsthand accounts of leading Rambam through wartime, and highlighted the hospital’s groundbreaking innovations. Included in her remarks was the remarkable story of EyeCon technology helping a critically injured lone soldier reconnect with the world.

She spoke about Rambam’s vision for the future through transformative initiatives such as its new Neurosciences Institute and Fortified Intensive Care Unit. The evening also underscored Rambam’s unwavering commitment to providing world-class care to all people, regardless of background, and the critical role philanthropy plays in ensuring the hospital is prepared to save lives both today and for generations to come.

The evening concluded with an engaging Q&A session followed by dessert.

08/06/2026

Teen Receives Preventive Treatment After Unusual Bat Encounter at Home

A teenager’s attempt to investigate strange sounds from a home air conditioner led to an unexpected encounter and a precautionary trip to the pediatric emergency room at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam). Medical staff say the case serves as an important reminder that any potential exposure to a bat should be taken seriously.

A 15-year-old boy from the Haifa area was treated at Rambam’s Cheryl Spencer Pediatric Emergency Department in the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital following suspected exposure to a bat that entered the family’s home through an air-conditioning unit. The emergency department team described the incident as one of the more unusual cases it had recently encountered.

The teenager heard unusual noises coming from the air conditioner and approached the unit to determine their source. He then discovered a small bat hiding inside the system, and during his attempt to free the animal, secretions from the bat fell on his face and entered his mouth. At the same time, the family’s cat pounced on the bat.

Concerned about possible health risks associated with contact with bats, the teen sought medical evaluation at Rambam. Medical staff assessed the situation and provided preventive treatment for rabies in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines before discharging him home in good condition. The family was also advised that the cat should receive appropriate preventive care.

Riad Shiekh, Head Nurse of the Cheryl Spencer Pediatric Emergency Department, explained that Ministry of Health guidelines require any suspected contact with a bat to be taken seriously, even when there is no visible injury.

“In such cases, people should go to an emergency department or a district health office to receive preventive treatment for rabies,” Shiekh said. “A bat is considered a potential carrier of the disease, even when there has been no direct contact or visible injury. We do not take risks.”

08/06/2026

07/27/2026

Israeli Study Debunks a Common Fear About Food Allergies

Parents of children with food allergies frequently fear that accidental skin contact with allergenic foods may trigger a severe systemic allergic reaction. Findings from a recent Israeli study offer reassuring, evidence-based guidance that could help ease unnecessary anxiety.

A large multicenter Israeli study, led by Dr. Idit Lachover-Roth, Director of the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit at Rambam Health Care Campus, aimed to evaluate the risk of systemic allergic reactions following controlled skin exposure to common food allergens in children with confirmed food allergies (FA).

According to Dr. Lachover-Roth, the study was driven by a desire to better understand what actually triggers significant allergic reactions in children with FA. The study is one of the largest prospective studies of its kind to evaluate a broad range of allergenic foods under controlled conditions.

Dr. Lachover-Roth headed the research that was conducted at Meir Medical Center and Schneider Children's Medical Center, both operated by Clalit Health Services. A total of 293 children, aged 1–18 years, were recruited from the allergy clinics at the two medical centers: 192 (65.5%) with confirmed FA comprised the study group, while 101 (34.5%) served as the control group. Participants underwent patch testing in which the allergenic food: milk, peanuts, eggs, sesame, or tree nuts, was applied to the forearm for 15 minutes. A total of 465 patch tests were performed: 263 in the FA group and 202 in the control group.

The findings, recently published in the international journal Acta Paediatricas, were both consistent and reassuring. In 83.7% of exposures, no reaction occurred—not even at the site of contact. Approximately 15% of children developed only a mild localized skin reaction, such as redness or slight swelling at the contact site. Only three children (1.1%) developed a somewhat more extensive skin reaction limited to the tested arm, which resolved after treatment with an antihistamine. Most importantly, not a single child experienced anaphylaxis or any systemic allergic reaction.

Younger age was the strongest predictor of skin reactivity, with younger children more likely to develop a mild localized skin reaction. Children with milk allergies also had a slightly higher rate of localized reactions. Even in these cases, however, no episodes of anaphylaxis were observed.

"Many families live in a constant state of vigilance because they fear that even accidental skin contact with an allergenic food could lead to anaphylaxis," explains Dr. Lachover-Roth. "Although a few previous studies have examined the effects of skin exposure, the question has never been investigated on this scale. Our findings show that when allergenic food comes into contact with intact skin—even in children with confirmed food allergies—the risk of a serious reaction is extremely low, approaching zero. These results allow us to provide families with evidence-based guidance and help reduce fears that are not supported by scientific data."

The researchers emphasize that the study does not change current medical recommendations. Children with FA should continue to avoid eating foods to which they are allergic, carry an epinephrine auto-injector when prescribed, and prevent oral exposure. Furthermore, the study did not examine contact with broken skin or mucous membranes, where the risk may be different.

"The fear of accidental contact with allergenic foods often leads to persistent anxiety and significantly affects the quality of life of both children and their families," says Dr. Lachover-Roth. "Our findings demonstrate that accidental exposure of intact skin to allergenic foods carries a very low risk of a clinically significant reaction. As long as standard safety precautions are followed, families can reduce unnecessary anxiety about accidental skin contact with allergenic foods."

07/27/2026

Rambam Pilots Innovative Israeli-Developed Nonsurgical Treatment for Enlarged Prostate

An Israeli-developed technology that uses focused ultrasound to treat enlarged prostate tissue from outside the body is being tested for the first time at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam). The technology is intended to offer a non-invasive alternative to conventional invasive procedures that require hospitalization.

“Benign enlargement of the prostate—benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH—is a common and often distressing condition that can cause severe urinary symptoms, including difficulty urinating, urgency, and loss of bladder control,” explains Dr. Alexander Kravtsov, a senior physician in Rambam’s Department of Urology. The condition is particularly common in men over 50, and its symptoms may affect quality of life, disrupt daily activities, and interrupt sleep.

Dr. Kravtsov explains that patients may delay treatment despite significant symptoms, not only because of embarrassment and psychological barriers, but primarily because they fear the available treatment options.

Current treatment options fall into two categories: medication and surgery. While medications can relieve symptoms, they do not work for everyone, and some patients experience little or no improvement. When drug therapy fails, physicians often recommend surgery. These procedures, performed through the urethra or re**um, require hospitalization and anesthesia and may involve bleeding, the use of a catheter, and a risk of impaired sexual function.

Developed through a collaboration between the Urology Department and Israeli startup Nina Medical, the FUS technology is now being tested for the first time at Rambam. The evaluation is being conducted within the Department headed by Professor Gilad Amiel, to assess the technology as a potential non-invasive alternative to traditional transrectal or transurethral procedures that may discourage patients from seeking treatment. The device is positioned against the skin of the perineum, enabling both real-time imaging and treatment without entering the body.

The procedure takes 10 to 30 minutes, requires neither anesthesia nor hospitalization, and represents a major conceptual and technological advance. The system uses FUS to perform controlled ablation of enlarged prostate tissue, with the aim of reducing prostate size and improving urine flow.

Shmuel Ben-Ezra, Co-Founder and CEO of Nina Medical, says the technology holds promise for millions of men who have no effective treatment option or who have avoided treatment because of fear or embarrassment. He believes it has the potential to become the gold standard for treating benign prostate enlargement throughout the Western world and could encourage many more men to seek treatment without hesitation.

The goal is eventually to offer the non-invasive procedure in a physician’s clinic, without surgical incisions or the need for hospitalization. “This new approach could allow patients to simply sit in a treatment chair, undergo a straightforward procedure, and continue with their normal daily routine with minimal disruption,” adds Dr. Kravtsov. “It represents a true revolution in men’s health.”

07/23/2026

Travel Advice: Consult a Travel Medicine Specialist Before Visiting Malaria-Risk Areas

No one wants to return from a holiday only to develop symptoms of a potentially serious disease. This happened to one woman who was hospitalized with malaria after returning from a trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania. An infectious disease specialist shares how travelers can reduce their risk before traveling abroad.

A woman in her fifties from Northern Israel was admitted to Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) on her return from an organized trip to Zanzibar, Tanzania. After spending about a week in the tropical destination, she returned home and soon developed clear symptoms of malaria. However, a false-negative test at another hospital delayed her diagnosis.

The woman was treated by Dr. Ami Neuberger Director of Internal Medicine D at Rambam, and Director of Rambam’s Travel Medicine Service. He explains that malaria remains widespread in some parts of the world, especially across Africa. He points out that while many people are concerned about malaria-prevention pills, those worries stem from older medications no longer in use. Today’s preventive treatments, he remarks, are quite effective and generally involve minimal side effects.

He adds that he has encountered many travelers who were incorrectly advised, even by travel industry representatives, not to take preventive medication, based on claims that certain destinations are malaria-free. He points out that such guidance is misleading and can pose serious risks, as untreated malaria can become life-threatening.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite and transmitted through the bite of an Anopheles mosquito. Clinical symptoms include high fever, chills, severe headaches, and a general feeling of ill health. Without treatment, a patient’s condition can deteriorate, leading to severe anemia, kidney and liver damage, and even loss of consciousness and death. Hence, anyone who has traveled to an area where malaria is present and later develops such symptoms should immediately undergo medical evaluation. It is also important to note that rapid diagnostic tests can sometimes yield a false negative result—as happened in this case—and therefore clear clinical symptoms require further investigation even in the event of a negative result.

Dr. Neuberger stresses that individuals planning to visit high-risk regions should seek professional advice from travel medicine specialists rather than relying on non-medical sources. He points out that even destinations considered relatively low-risk may contain localized hotspots—for instance, parts of western Thailand near the Myanmar border. Preventive medication, he emphasizes, makes infection highly unlikely, and he has not encountered malaria among Israelis who adhered to such treatment.

Nationwide, Israel sees dozens of cases annually, often involving travelers who either took unnecessary risks or followed incorrect advice. While most patients recover with proper care, fatalities still occur every few years—outcomes that are avoidable with appropriate prevention.

Based on an original Hebrew language article that first appeared on ynet.