Cod liver oil for measles?

Are you kidding me?

Image from Dr. Axe.com

RFK, Jr.’s reaction to the recent measles outbreak in Texas is a good example of how badly things are going to work in this administration. His defensive and uninformed reaction to measles starts with pointing out that there have been measles outbreaks almost every year and claiming that this one is no different. That is a questionable assumption. He then shows his ignorance by repeating information he has heard that patients are being treated with “vitamin A, as well as ‘good results’ from the use of the steroid budesonide, the antibiotic clarithromycin and cod liver oil.”

Except for Vitamin A, these are not treatments specific to measles. There has not been a good opportunity to study treatments for measles in the 68 years since the measles vaccine became widely available in 1957. The entire medical establishment has been focused on vaccination and prevention - and it has worked. This strategy eliminated measles in the United States, until recently. How could we possibly know what works to treat it? Now more studies are needed, but will our crippled NIH be able to fund such studies?

Steroids are used for shock and brain swelling no matter what the cause. Antibiotics don’t work in a viral infection, but may treat secondary pneumonias. I did find some evidence suggesting that high doses of Vitamin A might prevent complications and death in very young children. Cod liver oil is a ridiculous suggestions. It all reminds me too much of Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine treatments suggested for COVID-19.

Remember hydroxychloroquine? It is used to treat malaria and some rheumatic diseases. During the early months of COVID-19, patients who needed the drug for Lupus treatment were unable to get it because so many people panicked and bought up supplies. Some doctors even prescribed it for them.

Ivermectin is a drug used to treat parasitic diseases but there is no reason to believe that it would treat a retrovirus like COVID-19. An FDA review of Ivermectin for COVID-19 showed that it did not work and that possible adverse side effects could be “dangerous.”

You no longer hear about hydroxychloroquine or Ivermectin for COVID-19 because they don’t work! They never did and there is no reason why they should. Vitamin A is used in hospitalized children as part of supportive treatment. It is not the same as Vitamin A bought over-the-counter. Yet, now there are reports of a shortage of Vitamin A in parts of Texas.

This is insane! RFK Jr. has no medical knowledge and it shows. He cannot separate fact from fiction. He should rely on his experts, but he won’t. He doesn’t trust experts. People look to him and other unreliable sources for advice. Since there is no effective treatment for measles, pundits grab any possible over-the-counter remedy that is mentioned. People buy it. They still get measles and some end up in the hospital - where they may get steroids and antibiotics for the complications of measles. Very young children will get high doses of Vitamin A - under medical supervision.

Except for acting quickly to create a vaccine, the Trump administration mishandled the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. First they denied it, then they downplayed it, then they promoted useless and dangerous treatments. We are seeing the same ignorant reaction to measles, and we can expect more stupidity in the future.

I am truly worried. If they can so glibly mishandle an infectious disease, how will they handle military challenges or the impacts of global climate change? Lies may help a politician get elected, but it takes real knowledge and proper science to succeed in the competitive modern word. We are in real trouble.