A measles outbreak in West Texas has led to a new concern: children are being treated for toxic levels of vitamin A. The Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock is admitting patients with severe cases of measles who have elevated levels of vitamin A, causing abnormal liver function.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously recommended taking vitamin A under medical supervision to treat measles patients. However, there is no evidence that vitamin A can prevent the spread of measles. In fact, World Health Organization data from Africa shows that vitamin A supplementation reduces mortality in areas with widespread malnourishment, but this is not a concern in West Texas.
The hospital has warned the public about the risks of excessive vitamin A consumption and has seen high demand for cod liver oil, which contains both vitamins A and D. Meanwhile, over 320 people in Texas have contracted measles, with 40 hospitalized and one child dying in the current outbreak.
Source: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/west-texas-measles-outbreak-children-treated-vitamin-a-medical-disinformation