Medical disinformation connected to the West Texas measles outbreak has created a new problem. Children are being treated for toxic levels of vitamin A.

Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock confirms it is treating children with severe cases of measles who are also suffering from vitamin A toxicity. According to the hospital, they have admitted fewer than 10 pediatric patients who were all initially hospitalized due to measles complications but have elevated levels of vitamin A that is resulting in abnormal liver function.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the CDC to update its measles guidance to promote the use of vitamin A.

Kennedy, who has a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines, recommended in an article published March 2 on FOX News to take vitamin A under the supervision of a physician for those with mild, moderate and severe infections.

During a March 4 interview on Fox News, Kennedy suggested that therapies such as the use of cod liver oil — which contains vitamins A and D — were “working” in treating measles patients.

There are reports from the West Texas area that cod liver oil is in high demand and a big seller at area pharmacies.

But the hospital is informing the public to reduce consumption of vitamin A and has warned that excessive amounts of it may result in significant adverse effects.

There is no evidence that taking vitamin A will prevent measles.

  • Bring_Back_Guillotines@lemmy.ca
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    2 days ago

    Maybe instead of overdosing your child, get them vaccinated at a clinic with people who KNOW what they’re doing. Good Lord.

    No matter how long I live, I will never understand people who carry a child for 9 months, then decide to let that child take their chances on preventable illnesses.

    I’ve been to a child’s funeral, it is the MOST depressing and hopeless place to be. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

  • kingshrubb@lemmy.ml
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    2 days ago

    The real great replacement theory: right-wingers not listening to the experts in their fields and doing dumb things that end up potentially harming themselves and/or their family members.

  • umbrella@lemmy.ml
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    2 days ago

    why do fascists always encourage people to get sick? like wtf is the benefit for them here.

  • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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    2 days ago

    Fun fact you don’t eat livers of bears, especially polar bear because they contain lethal amounts vitamin A for humans

  • Professorozone@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I love the way Kennedy suggests taking some ridiculous old wive’s tale of a cure for measles “with doctors supervision.” So you should listen to doctors when they advise you how to take a home remedy but absolutely don’t listen to them when they suggest a medical remedy.

    • jonne@infosec.pub
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      3 days ago

      I mean, in a Trump administration that’s basically a given. We saw that during the pandemic.

    • Sludgehammer@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      I find the Ivermectin worship so weird. You’ve got MAGA’s “I don’t trust big pharma so I won’t take their fancy pants medicines” but for this one drug, that’s also manufactured by pharmaceutical companies suddenly they pivot to “Ivermectin is a panacea because Jesus personally blesses every molecule in the horse deworming paste I put on my toast.”

      I mean, I realize it’s foolish to expect consistency from conservatives. But it’s such a fundamental contradiction you’d think even they would notice.

      • FarFarAway@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        There was an early covid study from Japan? That said they tried ivermectin and it improved outcomes. A lot of different things were being tried to see if anything worked, not just ivermectin. Vitamin C and D were on the list of cures, too, I believe. After others tried to replicate it, they realized it didnt really improve anything, but it was too late. Word on the street was already out. The ivermectin supporters took this as a sign they were repressing a easy to obtain, over the counter drug in favor of a microchip vaccine. Really, it fed into all the conspiracy theories and got warped into becoming a cure all.

        • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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          2 days ago

          Ivermectin wasn’t really over the counter, it was rx for humans. What magats were doing was buying animal ivermectin, horse and cow paste which has significantly higher doses of the drug, which is toxic to people

        • capital_sniff@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          One faith healer gets a blind man to stand on their own and take a step and they’re set for life with followers.

  • Gates9@sh.itjust.works
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    3 days ago

    I take vitamins and other supplements, I think I’m pretty decently informed. At best it’s a preventative measure along with exercise, diet, and good sleep habits. You have to be a real moron to think that taking vitamins will “cure” a viral infection.

    • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      The people listening to him are the same people who took a fucking anti-parasitic drug to combat a viral infection. Honestly, Vitamin A is probably one of the less harmful things these fucks could OD their kids on.

        • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Maybe. I thought it was K from a polar bear liver. Either way, fat soluble vitamins are the scary ones. As long as you don’t take an immediately lethal or damaging dose of vitamin A, you have progressively worse symptoms that will show up before any permanent damage.

      • MDCCCLV@lemmy.ca
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        3 days ago

        Taking a dose of ivermectin is not a big deal. The problem with both of these is taking very high doses, which can be very bad for you.