Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
Medical professionals addressing the recent measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico have encountered an unexpected complication: cases of vitamin A toxicity among hospitalized patients.
At Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, which lies close to the outbreak’s epicenter, abnormal liver function was detected in several patients during routine testing. Dr. Lara Johnson, the hospital’s pediatric hospitalist and chief medical officer for Covenant Health-Lubbock Service Area, indicated that these findings likely indicate excessive intake of vitamin A.
Notably, all children exhibiting signs of vitamin A toxicity were unvaccinated.
In response to the outbreak, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has highlighted vitamin A as a focal point, even suggesting on Fox News that it may serve as a preventive measure.
However, the misuse of vitamin A can lead to significant health issues, and research does not support its effectiveness in preventing measles infection.
Vaccination remains the most reliable defense against the measles virus, with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine proving 97% effective after two doses. Kennedy has stated his support for vaccination while framing it as a personal choice.
“If individuals believe they can choose between the MMR vaccine and vitamin A, it could lead to unnecessary measles infections in children, which becomes especially concerning amidst an epidemic,” remarked Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development and dean at the Baylor College of Medicine. “Additionally, this approach invites unregulated medicine, with risks associated with improper dosing and potential toxicities.”
While vitamin A can be beneficial in carefully monitored doses for treating measles, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend it primarily for severe cases. According to Johnson, many of those experiencing toxicity were likely not using the vitamin in a medically supervised context.
Vitamin A’s effectiveness in measles recovery is often documented in studies from lower-income regions where deficiencies in this vitamin are more widespread. Experts like Dr. Lesley Motheral, a pediatrician in Lubbock, noted that the patients in West Texas are typically well-nourished, raising uncertainties about the vitamin’s usefulness in this demographic.
A vital component for both immunity and vision, vitamin A can accumulate in the body, particularly in the liver, leading to adverse effects when consumed in excess. Such effects may include dry skin and eyes, blurry vision, liver damage, and other serious conditions. Pregnant women face the added risk of potential birth defects due to high vitamin A levels.
For those with toxicity, management may include supportive treatments such as hydration for low blood pressure or moisturizers for skin and eye relief, as stated by Motheral. However, to address more severe health complications, further medical evaluation is necessary.
“Patients recovering from acute toxicity can see rapid improvement following cessation of the vitamin,” she explained. “Though, chronic toxicity can lead to lasting damage to bones, the brain, and the liver, with some serious repercussions potentially being irreversible.”
The Council for Responsible Nutrition, representing manufacturers of dietary supplements, has issued a warning against the inappropriate use of high vitamin A doses in an attempt to prevent measles infections.
“While vitamin A is critical for overall immune health, its efficacy in preventing measles has not been established. The CRN expresses concerns over reports of excessive vitamin A usage, particularly in children,” stated their warning.
Johnson has observed a trend where individuals believe that high vitamin A doses can be utilized for either treatment or prevention of measles, a notion that seems to be proliferated through social media channels.
“This narrative appears to emerge from the health and wellness industry, where influencers diminish the role of vaccines and promote alternative ‘cures’ such as ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, alongside vitamin A,” said Hotez.
Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine gained notoriety for being misrepresented as COVID-19 treatments, leading to numerous poison control incidents and considerable financial loss due to misinformation costs. Experts express concern that similar erroneous beliefs surrounding vitamin A and measles prevention could arise.
In his interview, Kennedy advocated for an unconventional treatment regime for measles that included a steroid, an antibiotic, and cod liver oil, the latter being rich in vitamin A. He commended two medical practitioners in West Texas who reportedly have employed this protocol, claiming remarkable recovery outcomes for their patients.
The antibiotic clarithromycin might be intended to guard against secondary bacterial infections, yet the evidence supporting this practice is limited. Likewise, the utility of budesonide as a steroid treatment for measles remains unclear.
Currently, the measles outbreak has affected at least 379 individuals across Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, with Kansas reporting 23 cases potentially linked to the same outbreak.
Source
www.yahoo.com