I am Dr. Weriwoyingipre Silver, a senior Registrar of faculty of Pediatrics and a member of the West African College of Physicians. I have been in medical practice for over 10 years now and, in that time, had a firsthand experience of a lot of the ills of wrong application of medical knowledge, also known as medical misinformation.
Medical misinformation refers to false or misleading information about health and medical topics that circulate among the general public. It can be spread through various media, including social media, websites, news articles, and word of mouth. Medical misinformation can have serious consequences, as it can lead to incorrect health practices, delayed treatment, exploitation from quacks, harm to individuals’ well-being, and many cases of avoidable deaths and permanent disability.
Common medical misinformation includes false claims about the effectiveness of alternative remedies or treatments, conspiracy theories about pharmaceutical companies, vaccines, or medical professionals, and misinformation about the causes and treatments of diseases or conditions. Some examples include the belief that vaccines cause autism, certain natural remedies can cure cancer, COVID-19 is a hoax, putting a mixture onions and crude oil in the eyes, nose and ears of a convulsing person will stop convulsions, smearing of raw eggs on burns will aid healing, drinking of cold water can cause disease, HIV not real, 5 G can cause cancer, drinking of herbal extracts or chewing of herbs can treat snake bites effectively, pneumonia is caused by cold and such unfounded claims that hot pineapple water can cure all cancers.
The spread of medical misinformation is often fueled by the rapid dissemination of information, especially personal opinions of influential people, over the internet and the difficulty of distinguishing accurate information from false or misleading claims. It is important to rely on reputable sources, such as reputable medical organizations, government health agencies, and healthcare professionals, when seeking information about medical topics.
Several years ago, when I was a junior resident and on call duty, a nearly lifeless 2-year-old child who was gasping for breath, had swollen abdomen and legs, and was paper white was rushed into the emergency room of a private hospital because public hospitals were on strike. The child lived after receiving several cylinders of supplemental oxygen and blood transfusion to the tone of 2 bags in 4 days in addition to a treatment of the underlying cause idenfied later. The working diagnosis had been anaemic heart failure secondary to severe anaemia ?cause. In the course of the history, we gathered that the child had been diagnosed with anaemia from worm infestation 4 months previously but parents declined treatment and resorted to the use of a plant popularity known as *”hospital too far”* to treat the anaemia. This plant produces a deep pink extract when boiled that is believed to effectively replenish red blood cells without the need for transfusion. Unfortunately, but predictably, the child’s health continued to deteriorate until the only pathway open to them was the emergency service of a hospital. The decision to shun evidence-based treatment for folkloric remedies had resulted in exponentially increased cost of medical care and a complication that had almost cost them the life of their precious child.
A certain 56-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer stage 1 and offered surgery for total removal of the gland, however, he declined consent and chose alternative medical treatment using all sorts of interventions ranging from fruits, herbs, and prayers. 8 years later, the cancer has progressed to stage 4, spreading through his body like wild fire. At this stage, he consented to combined surgical removal and medical treatment, but unfortunately for him, the cancer was not responsive to the available treatment regimens after surgery. He was in excruciating pain daily and gradually got sicker and sicker until he finally succumbed to the illness after 6 arduous months of untold hardship to himself and his household. The few actual experiences presented above are only a tiny proportion of some of the evils of medical misinformation.
This column is dedicated to the provision of accurate, timely, evidence based medical information concerning common and trending topics on health in a format that is clear and easy to understand.
Dr. Silver is available via email and telephone for further insights
Email; silveryeibake@gmail.com
Tel; 08038826156
