children
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), America’s anti-vaxer in-chief, famously claimed his brain has been eaten by a worm. While this assumption is as ridiculous as the man himself, the actions and delusions of RFK Jr. seem almost to confirm that something fundamental must be wrong with his intellectual abilities.
Recently he said that he will be working to get cell phones out of schools. “Cell phones produce electric magnetic radiation, which has been shown to do neurological damage to kids when it’s around them all day … It’s also been shown to cause cellular damage and even cancer … Cell phone use and social media use on the cell phone has been directly connected with depression, poor performance in schools, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse … The states that are doing this have found that it is a much healthier environment when kids are not using cell phones in schools.”
There are two seperate issues here:
- Limiting children’s use of cell phones might be – for several (not health-related) reasons – a reasonable idea.
- The assumption that cell phones cause the type of damage that RFK Jr. claimed is nonsense.
There is plenty of evidence on the subject, some more reliable that others. The most reliable data do not support what RFK Jr. claims. Here are a few systematic reviews on the subject:
A recent systematic review included 63 aetiological articles, published between 1994 and 2022, with participants from 22 countries, reporting on 119 different E-O pairs. RF-EMF exposure from mobile phones (ever or regular use vs no or non-regular use) was not associated with an increased risk of glioma [meta-estimate of the relative risk (mRR) = 1.01, 95 % CI = 0.89-1.13), meningioma (mRR = 0.92, 95 % CI = 0.82-1.02), acoustic neuroma (mRR = 1.03, 95 % CI = 0.85-1.24), pituitary tumours (mRR = 0.81, 95 % CI = 0.61-1.06), salivary gland tumours (mRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.78-1.06), or paediatric (children, adolescents and young adults) brain tumours (mRR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 0.74-1.51), with variable degree of across-study heterogeneity (I2 = 0 %-62 %). There was no observable increase in mRRs for the most investigated neoplasms (glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma) with increasing time since start (TSS) use of mobile phones, cumulative call time (CCT), or cumulative number of calls (CNC). Cordless phone use was not significantly associated with risks of glioma [mRR = 1.04, 95 % CI = 0.74-1.46; I2 = 74 %) meningioma, (mRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.70-1.18; I2 = 59 %), or acoustic neuroma (mRR = 1.16; 95 % CI = 0.83-1.61; I2 = 63 %). Exposure from fixed-site transmitters (broadcasting antennas or base stations) was not associated with childhood leukaemia or paediatric brain tumour risks, independently of the level of the modelled RF exposure. Glioma risk was not significantly increased following occupational RF exposure (ever vs never), and no differences were detected between increasing categories of modelled cumulative exposure levels.
Another recent systematic review included 5 studies that reported analyses of data from 4 cohorts with 4639 participants consisting of 2808 adults and 1831 children across three countries (Australia, Singapore and Switzerland) conducted between 2006 and 2017. The main source of RF-EMF exposure was mobile (cell) phone use measured as calls per week or minutes per day. For mobile phone use in children, two studies (615 participants) that compared an increase in mobile phone use to a decrease or no change were included in meta-analyses. Learning and memory. There was little effect on accuracy (mean difference, MD -0.03; 95% CI -0.07 to 0.02) or response time (MD -0.01; 95% CI -0.04 to 0.02) on the one-back memory task; and accuracy (MD -0.02; 95%CI -0.04 to 0.00) or response time (MD -0.01; 95%CI -0.04 to 0.03) on the one card learning task (low certainty evidence for all outcomes). Executive function. There was little to no effect on the Stroop test for the time ratio ((B-A)/A) response (MD 0.02; 95% CI -0.01 to 0.04, very low certainty) or the time ratio ((D-C)/C) response (MD 0.00; 95% CI -0.06 to 0.05, very low certainty), with both tests measuring susceptibility to interference effects. Complex attention. There was little to no effect on detection task accuracy (MD 0.02; 95% CI -0.04 to 0.08), or response time (MD 0.02;95% CI 0.01 to 0.03), and little to no effect on identification task accuracy (MD 0.00; 95% CI -0.04 to 0.05) or response time (MD 0.00;95% CI -0.01 to 0.02) (low certainty evidence for all outcomes). No other cognitive domains were investigated in children. A single study among elderly people provided very low certainty evidence that more frequent mobile phone use may have little to no effect on the odds of a decline in global cognitive function (odds ratio, OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.58, 649 participants) or a decline in executive function (OR 1.07; 95% CI 0.37 to 3.05, 146 participants), and may lead to a small, probably unimportant, reduction in the odds of a decline in complex attention (OR 0.67;95%CI 0.27 to 1.68, 159 participants) and a decline in learning and memory (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.29 to 1.99, 159 participants). An exposure-response relationship was not identified for any of the cognitive outcomes.
A 2022 systematic review concluded that the body of evidence allows no final conclusion on the question whether exposure to RF EMF from mobile communication devices poses a particular risk to children and adolescents.
That RFK Jr. sprouts BS almost every time he opens his mouth should be an embarrassment to all US citizens. For the rest of the world, it is more than that. In fact, it is fast becomming a serious concern: sooner or later, his insane delusions will affect public health on a global scale!
On this blog and elsewhere, we have many people doubting that COVID vaccinations were effective; some even claim that they were detrimental to our long-term health. In this context, cardiac conditions are often mentioned, as they constitute a significant category of potentially serious post-COVID conditions.
Perhaps these doubters will find this new analysis relevant. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesise the evidence on the factors associated with the development of post-COVID cardiac conditions, the frequency of clinical outcomes in affected patients, and the potential prognostic factors. A systematic review was conducted using the databases EBSCOhost, MEDLINE via PubMed, BVS, and Embase, covering studies from 2019 to December 2023. A total of 8343 articles were identified, and seven met the eligibility criteria for data extraction. The protective effect of vaccination stood out among the associated factors, showing a reduced risk of developing post-COVID cardiac conditions. Conversely, COVID-19 reinfections were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes. Regarding the main outcomes in these patients, most recovered, although some cases persisted beyond 200 days of follow-up. The study included in the analysis of prognostic factors reported that the four children who did not recover by the end of the study were between two and five years old and had gastrointestinal symptoms during the illness.
The authors concluded that the present findings provide valuable contributions to a better understanding of the evolution of post-COVID cardiac conditions. Despite the limited number of eligible studies, this review offers insights that describe the progression of cardiac conditions, from their onset to medium-term follow-up of patients. The protection offered by the COVID-19 vaccination regimen was observed beyond the acute phase of the disease, reducing the risk of developing post-COVID cardiac conditions. Public policies encouraging vaccination should be promoted to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and reinfections. Given that both COVID-19 and heart diseases occupy a significant place on the global health agenda, post-COVID cardiac conditions deserve due attention. Although most patients recover in the short term, some require care for many months to prevent chronicity and complications, particularly in vulnerable groups such as children and older adults. COVID-19 emerged as a pandemic in 2020, and four years later, it continues to impact the entire planet. This study provides important evidence to guide government policies on post-COVID conditions surveillance, prevention, and targeted healthcare interventions. Although this review compiles the available evidence on the topic, it is clear that there is still much to learn about post-COVID cardiac conditions. Strengthening the research agenda by proposing and conducting primary studies on the subject is important. Additionally, this review should be regularly updated as new studies are published in the field.
I would be delighted to hear that this new analysis has persuaded some doubters that COVID vaccinations are, after all. helpful interventions – but (as always on such occasions) I will not hold my breath!
As we have discussed previously, there is an outbreak of measles affecting unvaccinated children in the US. In an attempt to reassure the US public, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said that the U.S. Department of the Health and Human Services is watching the Texas measles outbreak. “It’s not unusual,” he claimed when pressed by reporters. “We have measles outbreaks every year.” This, of course, is quite misleading.
Yes, there are regular outbreaks, but they are hardly comparable to the current one. The last person to succumb to measles in the US died in 2015 during an outbreak in Clallam County, Washington state, in which only a couple dozen people were infected. Measles was then identified as the cause of death of a woman. The autopsy found that she had “several other health conditions and was on medications that contributed to a suppressed immune system,” the US Health Department said at the time.
Kennedy misstated a number of further facts:
- Kennedy claimed that most of the patients who had been hospitalized were there only for “quarantine.” Dr. Lara Johnson at Covenant, the hospital in question, contested that characterization. “We don’t hospitalize patients for quarantine purposes,” said Johnson, the chief medical officer.
- Kennedy claimed that two people had died of measles. Yet Andrew Nixon, the spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services clarified that, at the time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified only one death.
Gaines County has reported 80 measles cases so far. It has one of the highest rates of school-aged children in Texas who have opted out of at least one required vaccine, with nearly 14% skipping a required dose last school year.
Some of the hospitalised patients’ respiratory issues progressed to pneumonia, and they needed an oxygen tube to breathe, Johnson explained. Others had to be intubated, though Johnson declined to say how many. “Unfortunately, like so many viruses, there aren’t any specific treatments for measles,” she said. “What we’re doing is providing supportive care, helping support the patients as they hopefully recover.”
Last week, Trump seemed to buy into the already thoroughly debunked vaccines-cause-autism conspiracy that Kennedy famously has been promoting for years. Trump claimed that the Pennsylvania Dutch’s simplistic and unvaccinated lifestyle could be used as a potential model to avoid the disorder.
Meanwhile, multiple vaccine projects have been stopped by Kennedy. He paused a multimillion-dollar project to create a new Covid-19 vaccine in pill form on Tuesday. This project was a $460 million contract with Vaxart to develop a new Covid vaccine in pill form, with 10,000 people scheduled to begin clinical trials on Monday. Of that, $240 million was reportedly already authorized for preliminary research.
Furthermore, the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, or VRBPAC, was scheduled to meet in March to discuss the strains that would be included in next season’s flu shot, but federal officials told the committee that the meeting was canceled, said committee member Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Offit told NBC News that no explanation was given for the cancellation of the yearly spring meeting, which comes in the middle of a flu season in which 86 children and 19,000 adults have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In an email to NBC, Norman Baylor, a former director of the FDA’s Office of Vaccine Research and Review, said, “I’m quite shocked. As you know, the VRBPAC is critical for making the decision on strain selection for the next influenza vaccine season.”
Finally, an upcoming CDC vaccine advisory committee meeting was also postponed last week. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, was scheduled to meet Feb. 26 through Feb. 28. The group of independent experts convenes three times a year on behalf of the CDC to weigh the pros and cons of newly approved or updated vaccines. The postponement will put Kennedy at odds with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who is a doctor and the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which oversees HHS. Kennedy had promised Cassidy to give the Senate prior notice before making changes to certain vaccine programs. “If confirmed, he [Kennedy] will maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices without change,” Cassidy said in a speech on the Senate floor supporting Kennedy’s HHS nomination earlier this month.
The dangerous mess the new US governement got itself into within days of alledgedly governing seems monsterous. It is hard to conclude that Kennedy is competent or has abandonned his longstanding anti-vax stance. He clearly does not persue a reasonable strategy to protect the US from outbreaks of infections, endemics or pandemics. On the contrary, he is playing fast and loose with the health of US citizens and. as a consequence, with the health of all of us.
- acupuncture (39%),
- aromatherapy (35%),
- creative arts (20%),
- massage therapy (5%)
- hypnosis (1%).
After SCAM treatments, heart rate decreased and symptom scores improved for anxiety, fatigue, nausea, pain, and sadness (Cohen’s d effect sizes 0.22-0.99). Adjusted mixed-effects models suggested that the Faces Scale scores improved over time (b= -0.19, p<.01).
- after SCAM treatments, heart rate decreased and symptom scores improved for anxiety, fatigue, nausea, pain, and sadness;
- adjusted mixed-effects models suggested that the Faces Scale scores improved over time.
Of note is that they formulate these findings cleverly. Yet, the language nevertheless implies that SCAM was the cause of the observed effects.
To this I object!
In fact, I postulate that the findings show that SCAM treatments :
- delayed improvements in heart rate decreased, symptom scores, anxiety, fatigue, nausea, pain, and sadness.
- hindered the Faces Scale scores from improving over time.
On what grounds, you ask?
As the study had no control group, the basis for my claim is just as solid as the suggestions of causality made by the authors!
I am often amazed at the harm done by religious nutters, particularly when they employ their ‘religion’ as a replacement for medicine. Here is a truly horrific example.
It has been reported that all 14 members of a fringe religious group have been found guilty of the manslaughter of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs, who died after her insulin was withheld at her home in Toowoomba, Queensland.
The group faced a lengthy judge-only trial in Brisbane last year. They all represented themselves in court and refused to enter any pleas. During the trial, the Supreme Court heard the group rejected the medical system and the use of medications and put their full trust in the healing power of God. The prosecution alleged that the girl’s father, Jason Struhs, who had only recently joined the church, acted recklessly when he stopped administering the life-saving medication, as he knew this would likely lead to Elizabeth’s death. The group leader, Brendan Stevens, was accused of encouraging and counselling him to withdraw the insulin.
Justice Martin Burns acknowledged Elizabeth was a happy, vibrant child who was adored by her parents and every member of her church but who, due to their belief in the healing power of God, “left no room for recourse to any form of medical care or treatment, [and] she was deprived of the one thing that would most definitely have kept her alive — insulin”. Justice Burns said Stevens did procure and aid in the unlawful killing of Elizabeth by persuading, encouraging and supporting her father to cease using insulin, and his attempts to claim he didn’t influence him was “arrant nonsense”.
Shortly after Elizabeth’s death, Jason Struhs told police it “felt right” to stop her insulin and she was “as happy as anything”. He told police he made the decision to stop the medication and had said to her, “we are not going to do it anymore”. Subsequently, Elizabeth’s health had deteriorated over several days, and instead of contacting emergency services, the group prayed and sang. They did not contact police until more than 24 hours after she had died. When asked if they had anything to say following the verdicts, all members of the group declined to comment.
After their arrests the group continued to maintain their views, and repeatedly said in police interviews they believed Elizabeth would rise from the dead.
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Cases like this are shocking. Amongst other things, they remind us what consequences may and often will occur, when belief in unreason dominates reason, evidence and science.
CNN reported that a measles outbreak is growing in a rural area of West Texas where vaccination rates are well below the recommended level. In late January, two children in Gaines County were hospitalized for measles. On Wednesday, the state health department issued a health alert:
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is reporting an outbreak of measles in Gaines County. At this time, six cases have been identified with symptom onset within the last two weeks, all among unvaccinated school-aged children who are residents of Gaines County.
Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities. DSHS advises clinicians to follow the below measles immunization recommendations for the communities affected by the outbreak and immediately report any suspected cases to your local health department, preferably while the patient is in your presence.
To immediately increase the measles immunity and prevent disease occurrence in the affected communities, DSHS advises the following immunization recommendations for residents of Gaines County:
- Infants ages 6 to 11 months:
- Administer an early dose of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
- Follow the CDC’s recommended schedule and get:
- Another dose at 12 through 15 months.
- A final dose at 4 through 6 years.
- Children over 12 months old:
- If the child has not been vaccinated, administer one dose immediately and follow with a second dose at least 28 days after the first.
- If the child has received one dose, administer the second dose as soon as possible, at least 28 days after the first.
- Teen and adults with no evidence of immunity:
Administer one dose immediately and follow with a second dose at least 28 days after the first.
As of last Friday afternoon, the outbreak has jumped to 14 confirmed cases and six probable cases among people who are symptomatic and had close contact with infected individuals.
Investigations are ongoing, as cases have been identified also in parts of the region that are outside the Gaines County lines where the first cases were reported.
All the cases are believed to be among people who are not vaccinated against measles, and most of them are children.
A record share of US kindergartners had an exemption for required vaccinations last school year, leaving more than 125,000 new schoolchildren without coverage for at least one state-mandated vaccine, according to data published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in October.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal that at least 95% of children in kindergarten will have gotten two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, a threshold necessary to help prevent outbreaks of the highly contagious disease. The US has now fallen short of that threshold for four years in a row. MMR coverage is particularly low in Gaines County, where nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year did not get the vaccine.
In the health alert Wednesday, the Texas health department warned that additional cases are “likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities” due to the highly contagious nature of the disease.
Officials recommend that residents of Gaines County immediately improve their immunity and help prevent disease spread by ensuring that they are up to date on vaccinations. Children and adults who have not been vaccinated should get one dose immediately, followed by a second dose after 28 days. Infants between 6 and 11 months should get an early dose of the vaccine, and children who have had their first shot should get their second as soon as possible.
‘US News’ adds the following: As Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of the most influential purveyors of dangerous vaccine misinformation, prepares to take the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services, researchers say such bills have a higher chance of passing and that more parents will refuse vaccines because of false information spread at the highest levels of government.
“Mr. Kennedy has been an opponent of many health-protecting and life-saving vaccines, such as those that prevent measles and polio,” scores of Nobel Prize laureates wrote in a letter to the Senate. Having him head HHS, they wrote, “would put the public’s health in jeopardy.”…
On this blog, we have discussed Kennedy’s imbecilic attitudes to measles and other health issues several times, e.g.:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Here is what you can do to prevent his appointment
- The ‘International Chiropractors Association’ Congratulated Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on His Selection as ‘Secretary of Health and Human Services’
- Donald Trump might try to “outlaw” some vaccinations in the US
- The ‘moral and intellectual decay’ of COVID disinformants
In the forseeable future, we will most certainly encounter endemics and epidemics. I fear that, with Kennedy in charge of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the danger for them to grow into pandemics is hugely increased.
Many German newspapers reported that a 10-year old boy who had contracted diphtheria has died after months of suffering in a Berlin hospital. The child had not been vaccinated.
The boy had been admitted with a sore throat to the Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in Potsdam where diphtheria was diagnosed. His condition deteriorated amd the child was then transferred to a clinic in Berlin where he was given intensive care. For months, the boy was then hospitalized and suffered pityfully until he finally succumbed to the disease.
The boy had been attending a Waldorf school in Berlin. Such schools follow the bogus anthroposophical concepts of Rudolf Steiner and are notorious for their ant-vax stance. The school did not initially comment publicly on the pupil’s death. It was said to be a personal matter for the family. After the boy’s death, the school sent a letter to all parents informing them of the death: “His final path was characterized by strength and bravery, and he leaves a gap in our community that touches us all.”
For more on Waldorf schools see below:
- More on the dangers of Waldorf schools
- Waldorf schools are a danger to public health
- Anthroposophic medicine and vaccine hesitancy: are there links?
- More reasons to be concerned about Steiner schools
- Are anthroposophy-enthusiasts for or against vaccinations?
Through contact tracing by the public health department, another member of the child’s family was diagnosed with diphtheria. Fortunately, this person had been vaccinated and thus only suffered a mild course of the disease.
Diphtheria deaths are very rare in Germany. In 2023, one death due to cutaneous diphtheria in an adult was reported. In 2024, there has so far been one death due to respiratory diphtheria in an adult. In 1892, more than 50,000 mostly young people succumbed to the infection in Germany. Vaccination was introduced in 1913, which then reduced the number of infections to near zero.
While vaccination is effective in preventing severe illness, the treatment of diphtheria can be difficult and even unsuccessful, as the above case tragically demonsrates. Therefore my recommendation is to follow the official (but in Germany not mandatory) vaccination schedule.
In the series of posts entitled WHAT HAPPENED NEXT, I pick up themes that I addressed more than a decade ago with the intention of finding out whether things have moved on or not. Today, allow me to tackle the thorny issue of the use of so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) for children.
The use of SCAM by adults is often problematic; employing SCAM for kids is almost invariably so. This has mainly two reasons:
- Children cannot give informed consent.
- The evidence that SCAM is doing more good than harm to children is missing, negative or unconvincing.
I have therefore long cautioned parents about their use of SCAM for their kids.
In June 2013 I published a blog post on the subject that ended with the following remarks:
Treating children with unproven or dis-proven therapies is even more problematic than treating adults in this way. The main reason is that children cannot give informed consent. Thus alternative medicine for children can open difficult ethical questions, and sometimes I wonder where the line is between the application of bogus treatments and child-abuse. Examples are parents who opt for homeopathic vaccinations instead of conventional ones, or paediatric cancer patients who are being treated with bogus alternatives such as laetrile.
Why would parents not want the most effective therapy for their children? Why would anyone opt for dubious alternatives? The main reason, I think, must be misinformation. Parents who use alternative medicine are convinced they are effective and safe because they have been misinformed. We only need to google ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE to see for ourselves what utter nonsense and dangerous rubbish is being promoted under this umbrella.
Misinformation is the foremost reason why well-meaning parents (mis-) treat their children with alternative medicine. The results can be disastrous. Misinformation can kill!
The question I am asking today is HAS ANYTHING CHANGED? Has the usage of SCAM for kids declined? Has the evidence that SCAM is effective for children become more solid?
Judging from my 2024 posts on the subject, the answer seems hardly encouraging:
- The altruistic chiropractor: free spinal checks for children
- Traditional herbal medicine use doubled the risk of multi-organ dysfunction syndrome in children
- Spinal manipulation and mobilisation among infants, children, and adolescents: an international Delphi survey of expert physiotherapists
- Homeopathy is reported to reduce the fatality rate of children with acute encephalitis by 15% – but I find this hard to believe
- “Overuse Injuries in Children: A Homoeopathic Approach”: SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT or FRAUD?
- Homoeopathy vs. conventional primary care in children during the first 24 months of life
Judging from recently published surveys, the answer seems convincingly negative. Here are just a few examples:
- 46% stated that their child currently used or had ever used some form of complementary and alternative medicine in their life
- Thirteen percent of respondents indicated CAM use by their child.
- 51% reported CAM use in the preceding year.
- 85.9% of parents was willing to use CAM in future.
- 79% had used complementary and alternative medicine.
I find such findings quite alarming. I fear they suggest that:
- Misinformation is powerful.
- Parents require responsible advice.
- SCAM practitioners need to learn about and adhere to medical ethics.
- There is much more work to do, if we want to improve the safety of vulnerable children.
Being a dedicated crook and a liar himself, Donald Trump has long had an inclination to surround himself with crooks and liars. As discussed repeatedly, this preferance naturally extends into the realm of healthcare, Some time ago, he sought the advice of Andrew Wakefield, the man who published the fraudulent research that started the myth about a causal link between MMR-vaccinations and autism.
Early November this year, Trump stated that, if he wins the election, he’ll “make a decision” about whether to outlaw some vaccines based on the recommendation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notorious vaccine critic without any medical training. The president doesn’t have authority to ban vaccines but he can influence public health with appointments to federal agencies that can change recommendations or potentially revoke approvals.
Now that he did win the election, Trump suggested that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his pick to run Health and Human Services, will investigate supposed links between autism and childhood vaccines, a discredited connection that has eroded trust in the lifesaving inoculations.
“I think somebody has to find out,” Trump said in an exclusive interview with “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker. Welker noted in a back-and-forth that studies have shown childhood vaccines prevent about 4 million deaths worldwide every year, have found no connection between vaccines and autism, and that rises in autism diagnoses are attributable to increased screening and awareness.
Trump, too stupid to know the difference between correlation and causation, replied: “If you go back 25 years ago, you had very little autism. Now you have it.” “Something is going on,” Trump added. “I don’t know if it’s vaccines. Maybe it’s chlorine in the water, right? You know, people are looking at a lot of different things.” It was unclear whether Trump was referring to opposition by Kennedy and others to fluoride being added to drinking water.
Kennedy, the onetime independent presidential candidate who backed Trump after leaving the race, generated a large following through his widespread skepticism of the American health care and food system. A major component of that has been his false claims linking autism to childhood vaccinations. Kennedy is the founder of a prominent anti-vaccine activist group, Children’s Health Defense. The agency Trump has tasked him with running supports and funds research into autism, as well as possible new vaccines.
The debunked link between autism and childhood vaccines, particularly the inoculation against mumps, measles and rubella, was first claimed in 1998 by Andrew Wakefield who was later banned from practicing medicine in the UK. His research was found to be fraudulent and was subsequently retracted. Hundreds of studies have found childhood vaccines to be safe.
Autism diagnoses have risen from about 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 today. This rise has been shown to be due to increased screening and changing definitions of the condition. Strong genetic links exist to autism, and many risk factors occurring before birth or during delivery have been identified.
If Trump does, in fact, ‘outlaw’ certain vaccinations, he would endanger the health of the US as well as the rest of the world. Will he really be that stupid?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition affecting children
and adults, characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Despite the effectiveness of conventional treatments, such as stimulants, side effects drive interest in alternative therapies like homeopathy. This systematic review was aimed at determining the effectiveness of homeopathy as a treatment for ADHD.
A comprehensive search of PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify clinical studies evaluating homeopathic treatments for ADHD. After applying selection criteria, eight studies were reviewed, consisting of randomized controlled trials, comparative studies, randomized open-label Pilot study, and clinical trials, were included in the final review.
The results suggest that some homeopathic treatments showed potential in reducing ADHD symptoms, particularly inattention and hyperactivity.
The authors concluded that homeopathy, particularly individualized treatment, shows promise as an adjunct or alternative treatment for ADHD, especially for those children whose caregivers seek alternatives to stimulant medications. Studies report that homeopathic treatment can significantly improve ADHD symptoms in some children, particularly when the correct remedy is identified. However, the evidence is mixed, with several studies showing improvements that may be attributable to the consultation process rather than the remedy itself. Given the increasing interest in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among parents of children with ADHD, homeopathy may provide a valuable therapeutic option. Nevertheless, larger, more rigorous trials are required to confirm these findings and establish clear guidelines for its use in clinical practice. The potential for homeopathy to serve as an adjunct to conventional treatments, especially for younger patients or those intolerant to stimulants, remains an area worthy of further exploration.
What journal publishes such misleading drivel? It’s the African Journal of biomedical Research. No, I also had never heard of it! And who are the authors of this paper, their titles and affiliations? Here they are:
- Professor & HOD, Department of Anatomy, Dr. D.Y. Patil Homoeopathic Medical College & Research Centre, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India,
- Professor & HOD, Department of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, Dr. D.Y. Patil Homoeopathic Medical College &
Research Centre, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India, - Department of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, Dr. D.Y. Patil Homoeopathic Medical College & Research Centre, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India,
- Department of Homoeopathic Pharmacy, Dr. D.Y. Patil Homoeopathic Medical College & Research Centre, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India,
- Principal, Professor & HOD, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Homoeopathic
Medical College & Research Centre, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pune,
Maharashtra, India.
Five guys with the same name?
No, one chap with 5 rather pomopous titles!
And what is wrong with this ‘systematic review’?
Everything!
It has almost none of the qualities that render a paper a systematic review. Foremost, it does not account for the quality of the primary studies – the most reliable show no effect!
Therefore, I’d like to re-phrase and shorten the conclusions as follows:
There is no reliable evidence to shoe that homeopathy is effective for ADHD.
