Aspirin Misuse May Have Made 1918 Flu Pandemic Worse
ScienceDaily (Oct. 3, 2009) — The devastation of the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic is well known, but a new article suggests a surprising factor in the high death toll: the misuse of aspirin. Appearing in the November 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases and available online now, the article sounds a cautionary note as present day concerns about the novel H1N1 virus run high.
High aspirin dosing levels used to treat patients during the 1918-1919 pandemic are now known to cause, in some cases, toxicity and a dangerous build up of fluid in the lungs, which may have contributed to the incidence and severity of symptoms, bacterial infections, and mortality. Additionally, autopsy reports from 1918 are consistent with what we know today about the dangers of aspirin toxicity, as well as the expected viral causes of death.
The motivation behind the improper use of aspirin is a cautionary tale, said author Karen Starko, MD. In 1918, physicians did not fully understand either the dosing or pharmacology of aspirin, yet they were willing to recommend it. Its use was promoted by the drug industry, endorsed by doctors wanting to “do something,” and accepted by families and institutions desperate for hope.
“Understanding these natural forces is important when considering choices in the future,” Dr. Starko said. “Interventions cut both ways. Medicines can save and improve our lives. Yet we must be ever mindful of the importance of dose, of balancing benefits and risks, and of the limitations of our studies.”
Original article posted at New Scientist
Important Note: It's not the toxicity of aspirin that kills;it's that aspirin lowers fevers. And fever is the primary way the body eliminates viruses. "The fever is the human or mammalian body's primary generalized immune system response to any viral infection. Any palliative treatment which reduces the fever of flu infections will prolong the infection and may lead to irreparable damage or death, mostly from the resulting viral pneumonia."
--From:Health Maven Post: Fever Kills Viruses - Don't Kill the Fever
Get more details in this Natural News article of the same name click here.
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