COVID-19: therapeutic misinformation and intoxications
, 2, 3, 45
Abstract
The new coronavirus pandemic alarmed the world. Misinformation regarding prevention and treatment for safeguarding against this pandemic seemed to be life-threatening along with the spreading pandemic. Public health authorities in the world tried to battle this virtual virus by offering true information and correcting misinformation. However, the public misinformation through social media caused toxicological consequences in some parts of the world which provoked awareness, response, and concern of the public health authorities including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the toxicology community. This study analysed the published literature on therapeutic disinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and its toxicological effects. The electronic databases searched were Scopus, MEDLINE, Scielo. The used keywords were: “COVID-19”, “misinformation”, “social media”, “public health”, “drug toxicity”, and “education”. Finding new strategies for the prevention and treatment of the coronavirus again stresses the role of public education about true drug information. Hundreds of chemicals were/are being tested to be prophylactic medications or healing drugs for the coronavirus. Therefore, spreading accurate information and editing misinformation can be crucial. In summary, this commentary is going to bring attention to misinformation regarding prevention and treatment for safeguarding against the COVID-19 pandemic and its toxicological consequences and the need for public education on the appropriate use of therapies.
Keywords: COVID-19misinformationsocial mediapublic healthdrug toxicityeducation
References
- Lauer SA, Grantz KH, Bi Q, et al. The incubation period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from publicly reported confirmed cases: estimation and application. Ann Intern Med. 2020; 172(9): 577–582.
- Depoux A, Martin S, Karafillakis E, et al. The pandemic of social media panic travels faster than the COVID-19 outbreak. J Travel Med. 2020; 27(3): taaa031.
- Vosoughi S, Roy D, Aral S. The spread of true and false news online. Science. 2018; 359(6380): 1146–1151.
- Zarocostas J. How to fight an infodemic. Lancet. 2020; 395(10225): 676.
- WHO. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: myth busters. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters (14.01.2022).
- Geldsetzer P. Knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 among the general public in the United States and the United Kingdom: a cross-sectional online survey. Ann Intern Med. 2020; 173(2): 157–160.
- Soltaninejad K. Methanol mass poisoning outbreak: a consequence of COVID-19 pandemic and misleading messages on social media. Int J Occup Environ Med. 2020; 11(3): 148–150.
- Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Zamani N, Roberts DM, et al. Consensus statements on the approach to patients in a methanol poisoning outbreak. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2019; 57(12): 1129–1136.
- Onyekwere N, Nwadiuto I, Maleghemi S, et al. Methanol poisoning in South-South Nigeria: Reflections on the outbreak response. J Public Health Afr. 2018; 9(1): 748.
- Yan Y, Shin WIn, Pang YX, et al. The first 75 days of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak: recent advances, prevention, and treatment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(7).
- COVID-19: beware of poisoning linked to disinfection and other risk situations. https://www.anses.fr/en/content/covid-19-beware-poisoning-linked-disinfection-and-other-risk-situations (14.01.2021).
- Ross MP, Spiller HA. Fatal ingestion of sodium hypochlorite bleach with associated hypernatremia and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1999; 41(2): 82–86.
- Gorguner M, Aslan S, Inandi T, et al. Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome in housewives due to a bleach-hydrochloric acid mixture. Inhal Toxicol. 2004; 16(2): 87–91.
- The FDA is literally warning people not to drink bleach now. https://www.sciencealert.com/the-fda-is-literally-warning-people-not-to-drink-bleach-now (14.01.2022).
- FDA. US. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions (14.01.2022).
- WHO. “Solidarity” clinical trial for COVID-19 treatments. 2019. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/global-research-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/solidarity-clinical-trial-for-covid-19-treatments (14.01.2022).
- Mégarbane B. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19: between hope and caution. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2021; 59(1): 70–71.
- Nigeria has chloroquine poisonings after Trump praised drug. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-21/nigeria-reports-chloroquine-poisonings-after-trump-praised-drug (14.01.2022).
- FDA letter to stakeholders: do not use chloroquine phosphate intended for fish as treatment for COVID-19 in humans. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/product-safety-information/fda-letter-stakeholders-do-not-use-chloroquine-phosphate-intended-fish-treatment-covid-19-humans (14.01.2022).
- The American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, The American College of Medical Toxicology and the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Caution about toxicity from hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. https://mailchi.mp/clintox/aact-acmt-aapcc-joint-statement (14.01.2022).
- Researchers study drug to reduce COVID-19 complications. https://www.france24.com/en/20200323-researchers-study-drug-to-reduce-covid-19-complications (14.01.2022).
- Amrollahi-Sharifabadi M, Seghatoleslami A, Amrollahi-Sharifabadi M, et al. Fatal colchicine poisoning by accidental ingestion of Colchicum persicum: a case report. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2013; 34(4): 295–298.
- Amrollahi-Sharifabadi M, Amrollahi-Sharifabadi M. Comments on "Fatal colchicine intoxication". Saudi J Anaesth. 2015; 9(2): 220.
- Meredith J. Effort atSpeech: New and Selected Poems. In: Meredith J. ed. Five poema of Guillaume Apollinaire (translations). Northwestern University Press; P77, Evanston 1977: 77.
- Yoon E, Babar A, Choudhary M, et al. Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: a comprehensive update. J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2016; 4(2): 131–142.
- Tanne J. Paracetamol causes most liver failure in UK and US. BMJ. 2006; 332(7542): 628.
- Mahmoudi GA, Astaraki P, Mohtashami AZ, et al. N-acetylcysteine overdose after acetaminophen poisoning. Int Med Case Rep J. 2015; 8: 65–69.
- Simon S, Athanasiov P, Jain R, et al. Desferrioxamine-related ocular toxicity: A case report. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2012; 60(4): 315–317.
- Anti-parasitic drug kills COVID-19 in lab. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6711213/anti-parasitic-drug-kills-covid-19-in-lab/?cs=14231 (14.01.2022).
- Caly L, Druce JD, Catton MG, et al. The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Antiviral Res. 2020; 178: 104787.
- Dumit VI, Dengjel J. The cup of youth. Cell Cycle. 2014; 13(13): 2021.
- Hernández-García I, Giménez-Júlvez T. Assessment of health information about COVID-19 prevention on the internet: infodemiological study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2020; 6(2): e18717.