Measles prevention is not guaranteed by Vitamin A. Health professionals clarify its actual functions.
A Bustle in the United States: Measles on the Rise, and What You Can Do About It
The U.S. has seen a resurgence of measles cases, as confirmed cases stretch across 30 states, with a reported total of over 1,000 cases to date. Tragically, this outbreak has resulted in three reported deaths.
The epicenters of this outbreak are primarily western Texas and New Mexico, although measles cases have also been reported in places like California, New York, and Maryland. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises caution for travelers.
Historically, measles has been effectively contained, save for a few instances of major outbreaks. Two main outbreaks, the and the Indiana outbreak of 2005, were both fueled by undervaccination.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has recently suggested that certain supplements, such as cod liver oil, vitamin A, and the antibiotic clarithromycin, may be useful in addressing measles.
The CDC, however, still encourages vaccination as the "best course of action" against measles.
To delve into the intricacies of vitamin A supplements, Medical News Today reached out to three medical experts: Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, Daniel Ganjian, a board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, and Danelle Fisher, another board-certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA.
Can vitamin A supplements help prevent or treat measles?
"Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin, plays a role in both vision and immune system functioning," Danelle Fisher clarified.
The experts agreed that vitamin A alone does not offer any protective benefits against measles, but stress that the disease itself can exacerbate vitamin A deficiencies and worsen symptoms.
"Although vitamin A does aid the immune system, it does not offer protection against viral infections like measles. Its role is primarily to help recover from the illness," Fisher added.
Medical News Today learned from Monica Gandhi that, while severe vitamin A deficiency once led to worsened measles outcomes, two doses of vitamin A should only be given to children under the age of 2 who have severe measles (as recommended by the World Health Organization) and not used as a preventive measure.
What about budesonide and clarithromycin?
Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocated for the use of the steroid budesonide and the antibiotic clarithromycin in the context of treating measles. However, experts uniformly advise caution when it comes to these unconventional treatments.
"There is no substantial evidence to support the use of budesonide or other steroids in treating measles, and there is no clear reason to make them a staple in measles management. Their use should never be considered standard treatment without further investigation," Daniel Ganjian explains.
"On the topic of clarithromycin, antibiotics are reserved for treating confirmed bacterial infections and should not be used to treat viral infections like measles," he continued.
How can you protect yourself from measles?
The CDC advises that people are contagious from when the measles rash appears until four days after it. Isolation is therefore recommended during this period to prevent further spread of the disease, as per major guidelines.
Fisher emphasized that vaccination is the most effective prevention strategy against measles.
Vitamin A supplements are not a suitable means of preventing measles in today's vitamin-abundant environment.
"Vitamin A is useful in cases where someone already has measles, but it does not serve as an effective preventive measure," Gandhi stated.
In the event that you have not been vaccinated or are unsure of your vaccination status, discuss your options with your doctor immediately.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, so maintaining a strict hygiene routine and avoiding crowded places can also decrease your chances of contracting it.
Enrichment Data:
Additional Measures for Preventing Measles
Regular hand-washing, covering your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, and avoiding contact with people who have measles can also help reduce the risk of infection.
Vitamin C, another nutrient, has shown some promising results in building the immune system, though its role in preventing measles specifically is not as well-established as with vitamin A.
The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing or treating measles is still the subject of ongoing research.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggests that cod liver oil, vitamin A, and the antibiotic clarithromycin might be useful in addressing measles, but medical experts advise caution, noting a lack of substantial evidence for budesonide, steroids, or clarithromycin in treating measles.
- Although vitamin A does aid the immune system, it does not offer protection against viral infections like measles, and while severe vitamin A deficiency once worsened measles outcomes, the World Health Organization recommends giving only two doses of vitamin A to children under 2 with severe measles, not as a preventive measure.
- In addition to vaccination, maintaining a strict hygiene routine, covering your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, and avoiding contact with people who have measles can also help reduce the risk of infection, according to enrichment data.
- Vitamin C, a nutrient, has shown some promising results in building the immune system, though its role in preventing measles specifically is not as well-established as with vitamin A, as discussed in enrichment data.
- Measles is a highly contagious viral disease, so it is important to discuss your vaccination status with your doctor, consider fitness-and-exercise and mental-health practices for general health-and-wellness, and be aware of the conditions in which supplements like cod liver oil and vitamins might be useful with future outbreaks.
