‘Fear leads to desperate measures’: Experts address harmful, untested COVID-19 remedies
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During a press briefing last week, President Donald J. Trump asked health experts whether they could investigate two potential treatments for COVID-19 that could cause serious harm to patients.
After a presentation from William N. Bryan, a senior official performing the duties of the undersecretary for Science and Technology Directorate at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, on the effectiveness of sunlight and chemical disinfectants in killing SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, Trump said it would be interesting to investigate similar strategies in people.
He asked Bryan about testing ways to “hit the body with a tremendous — whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light ... inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way,” and continued asking if disinfectants can be used as an “injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that.”
When later questioned by reporters about his remarks on injecting disinfectant, Trump said, “I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you, just to see what would happen.”
Despite the claim of sarcasm, his comments have led to backlash from both the medical and industrial communities and concern for patient health.
Injecting, ingesting disinfectant
“Bleach is an alkaline agent, which means it will burn whatever part of your body it comes in contact with,” Kirk Cumpston, DO, President-Elect of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and medical director of the Virginia Poison Control Center, told Healio Primary Care.
“If injected, it may cause severe pain and injury to the area of injection, making you more susceptible to infection,” he continued. “If you drink bleach, it will burn your insides.”
Shortly after Trump suggested ingesting or injecting disinfectants, Reckitt Benckiser, the manufacturer of Lysol, released a statement addressing inquiries the company had received regarding the safety of ingesting their disinfectant products.
“We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said in the release. “As with all products, our disinfectant and hygiene products should only be used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. Please read the label and safety information.”
One week before Trump’s comments about testing disinfectants in humans, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida announced a temporary injunction to stop the sale of an industrial bleach product marketed as a “miracle treatment” for COVID-19. The Department of Justice alleged that members of the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing were selling a powerful bleach product intended for oral ingestion called “Miracle Mineral Solution.” The sellers claimed that the product could cure, mitigate, treat or prevent COVID-19, as well as other conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, autism, brain cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis. However, there are no clinical data or evidence to support the claims, according to a press release from the Department of Justice. In addition, the FDA previously warned consumers that the Miracle Mineral Solution product can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and severe dehydration symptoms.
“We will zealously pursue perpetrators of fraud schemes seeking to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said in a press release. “Not only are these products potentially harmful, but their distribution and use may prevent those who are sick from receiving the legitimate health care they need.”
Exposure to UV light
In response to Trump’s suggestion that people can be exposed directly to UV light, the International Ultraviolet Association and RadTech North America — a nonprofit organization that works to advance UV and electron beam technologies — released a joint statement advising against direct exposure to UV light.
The organizations stressed that “there are no protocols to advise or to permit the safe use of UV light directly on the human body at the wavelengths and exposures proven to efficiently kill viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.”
According to the organizations, “UV light under the conditions known to kill such viruses are also known to cause severe skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage.”
They recommend that those using UV light to disinfect medical equipment, air or surfaces that may have been exposed to SARS-COV-2 use all “recommended health and safety precautions and to avoid direct exposure of the body to the UV light.”
Patient response to potential ‘treatments’
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the number of calls to poison control centers for exposure to disinfectants and cleaners increased by 20%, which could continue to increase after Trump’s statements, according to Cumpston.
“Whether you like him or not, he is the leader of this country and a world leader, so people will take his words at face value,” he said. “People are afraid, and fear leads to desperate measures.”
Previously, after Trump suggested that hydroxychloroquine was a “game changer” for treating COVID-19, a man and women in Arizona ingested chloroquine phosphate, were subsequently hospitalized and the man later died of cardiac arrest.
“There continues to be a growing trend in this country to find do-it-yourself remedies for serious illnesses,” Cumpston explained. “People have been, currently do and will continue to seek the magical cure despite being untested in efficacy and dangerous to themselves.”
To help prevent patients from taking medical advice without scientific backing from the president and other sources, Cumpston said that “physicians need to communicate openly with their patients and educate them about the risks and benefits of any therapeutic choice. It is our duty.” – by Erin Michael
References:
NPR. Man dies, woman hospitalized after taking form of chloroquine to prevent COVID-19. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/24/820512107/man-dies-woman-hospitalized-after-taking-form-of-chloroquine-to-prevent-covid-19. Accessed Apr. 27, 2020.
United States Department of Justice. Justice Department Seeks to End Illegal Online Sale of Industrial Bleach Marketed as “Miracle” Treatment for COVID-19. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-seeks-end-illegal-online-sale-industrial-bleach-marketed-miracle-treatment. Accessed Apr. 27, 2020.
White House. Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and members of the Coronavirus Task Force in press briefing. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-31/. Accessed Apr. 27, 2020.
White House. Remarks by President Trump at a Signing Ceremony for H.R. 266, Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-signing-ceremony-h-r-266-paycheck-protection-program-health-care-enhancement-act/. Accessed Apr. 27, 2020.
Disclosure: Cumpston reports no relevant financial disclosures.