Measles prevention not guaranteed by Vitamin A supplement; experts clarify its true functions.
Taking a Slant on the Measles Outbreak and Vitamin A
With over 1,000 measles cases popping up in the USA, folks have started looking for alternatives - namely vitamin A supplements. This all stems from some comments by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who's the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary.
Let's take a closer look at the facts, as we've put the questions to three top medical and public health experts. Here's their opinion: Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, an infectious disease specialist with the University of California, San Francisco; Daniel Ganjian, MD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; and Danelle Fisher, MD, FAAP, another board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
Vitamin A: Panacea or Passé?
Vitamin A is a key player in vision and immune system function. It's found in foods like cheese, milk, fish, and green and orange veggies. But what's the story when it comes to preventing or treating measles?
"Vitamin A provides no preventive benefits," Fisher explained, with all three experts in agreement on this point.
However, if you get the measles, your body might end up vitamin A deficient, which can make symptoms even worse. Treatment in those circumstances with two oral doses of vitamin A can help mitigate the severity of measles to some degree.
"Severe vitamin A deficiency led to more severe outcomes with measles in the past," Gandhi said, adding that the World Health Organization recommends vitamin A supplementation specifically for adults and children with measles.
Budesonide and Clarithromycin: Unproven Benefits?
Proponents of these medications – like Kennedy Jr. – claim they've shown "good results". But the experts aren't so sure.
"Budesonide and standard steroids don't have a place in measles management as there's no clear evidence for their regular use," Gandian said. While some studies suggest no harm with steroid use, there's no definitive proof of its benefits.
On the topic of clarithromycin, it's important to remember that antibiotics are used to tackle bacterial infections – not viral ones like measles. Clarithromycin isn't recommended for measles itself, and it should only be used if secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia or otitis media are present.
Preventing the Spread: Vaxxing is Key
So, what's the best defense against measles? Vaccination.
"The only way to prevent measles is vaccination, especially in areas where the outbreak is occurring," Fisher advised. Children should get their first dose at ages 12-15 months, and the second at ages 4-6. For older children, teens, and adults, a single to two doses of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine is recommended, with each dose at least 28 days apart.
It's also crucial to remember that vitamin A is used for alleviating the symptoms of measles, not as a preventive measure. Therefore, there's no reason to take vitamin A to avert measles in this era of dietary abundance.
- Understanding the current measles outbreak in the USA, some individuals are turning to vitamin A supplements as an alternative, following comments by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- In the context of measles prevention and treatment, Monica Gandhi, Daniel Ganjian, and Danelle Fisher, medical and public health experts, agree that vitamin A provides no preventive benefits.
- However, if an individual contracts measles, their body may become vitamin A deficient, potentially exacerbating symptoms. Under such circumstances, two oral doses of vitamin A can help mitigate the severity of measles.
- While proponents of medications like Budesonide and clarithromycin suggest they have shown "good results" for measles treatment, these experts advise against their regular use due to a lack of clear evidence for their benefits.
