Restrictions must be imposed on social media from spreading misinformation affecting public health
BENGALURU
A 36-year-old patient, who recently visited the outpatient department of a city hospital with kidney dysfunction had an alarming creatinine score of 4.5 (the normal range is around 1). When doctors investigated further, they found the individual was following a detox therapy promoted by a social media influencer, a regimen being recommended for weight loss but one that ultimately harmed the kidneys. We did not exactly know what the composition of the detox water was as it had some powders, boosters, and other ingredients. But this is not the first time we have encountered a case like this. We also had a patient in their early 40s who lost the golden period during a stroke and ended up with permanent paralysis of one side as they followed the advice of someone on social media when they had weakness in one side of the body, said Dr Harish Mallapura, Intensive Care Physician and Infectious Disease Specialist, Director, Institute of Critical Care Medicine, Kauvery Hospital, Marathahalli.
Recently, China introduced a regulation that bars content creators from producing videos or posts on serious topics such as medicine, law, and finance unless they hold relevant academic degrees. In Bengaluru, doctors are similarly calling for government regulation, citing rising instances of patients landing in emergency rooms after following online medical advice.
Dr SN Aravinda, Lead Consultant Internal Medicine, Aster RV Hospital, said, weight reduction methods, detox therapies, and immunity boosters have become buzzwords across social media, often propagated by influencers describing themselves as lifestyle coaches or wellness coaches.
Doctors warn many of these trends lead not only to digestive issues and, in severe cases, heavy metal poisoning, liver damage, and kidney failure.Younger people, especially those in the 20–40 age group, are often influenced by social media. Most of them have annual health checkups by their companies.
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Once the doctors notice a few parameters in the reports, which are not under ideal levels, they go seeking reels to answer their questions or suggest easy therapies, said Dr SN Aravinda, Lead Consultant Internal Medicine, Aster RV Hospital.