COVID-19: therapeutic misinformation and intoxications

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.