AAP Says Vitamin Ought to Not be Used to Forestall Measles

In 2025, there have been no less than three measles outbreaks within the U.S. The most important outbreak thus far is in Texas, with 198 circumstances, leading to 23 hospitalizations and one loss of life of a school-aged youngster, as of March 7, 2025. This youngster had not obtained the measles vaccine and had no underlying well being circumstances.

Sadly, amid these scary outbreaks, some misinformation about measles therapies and prevention has additionally been spreading—particularly, the concept that vitamin A can be utilized to deal with and stop measles.

This has led the the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to lately launch on-line statements warning mother and father to not depend on vitamin A for measles prevention, and that an excessive amount of vitamin A could be harmful for kids.

The AAP emphasizes, “measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination stays crucial instrument for stopping measles.” The AAP additionally underscores how extraordinarily contagious the measles is, noting the virus can stay within the air as many as two hours after somebody contaminated has left the neighborhood. As such, their focus is on the significance of vaccination as the first preventative instrument for measles.

Vaccines Are the Finest Approach To Forestall Measles

Therese Linnon, DO, a pediatrician at Akron Youngsters’s Hospital says whereas vitamin A can be utilized to assist with some signs of the measles as soon as a affected person has been identified, it’s much better to forestall the an infection within the first place by getting the measles vaccine.

“Vitamin A ought to not be a substitute for the vaccine. There isn’t a dose of vitamin A that may defend them from getting the measles virus,” she explains.

Mahvash Madni, MD, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the AAP agrees, referencing the a whole lot of measles-related youngster deaths within the U.S. yearly, previous to the existence of a vaccine.

“Diet and a robust immune system are necessary in serving to stop illness however sure viruses which can be very highly effective can overwhelm the immune system no matter our greatest efforts,” she says. “Measles is one among these viruses. That’s the reason years of analysis and energy went into arising with a particularly secure and efficient vaccine which was put in force many years in the past.

As per CDC tips, the present measles vaccine—the MMR vaccine—ought to be given in two doses. The primary dose ought to be given when a baby is 12-15 months, and the second dose ought to be given between 4 and 6 years. Two doses of MMR vaccine is 97% efficient towards measles infections.

Can Vitamin A Be Used To Deal with Measles?

To begin with, it’s necessary to know that the measles isn’t only a virus that causes an annoying rash.

“Youngsters look and feel very ailing,” explains Dr. Madni. “It could possibly trigger pneumonia, neurological issues like encephalitis and loss of life.”

As Dr. Madni and the CDC notice, for each 1,000 kids who get the measles, between one and three of them will die.

Furthermore, Dr. Madni emphasizes, there are not any therapies or “cures” for the measles. “It has to run its course like most viruses,” she says. So why do some individuals counsel supplementing with vitamin A?

As Zachary Hoy, MD, a board-certified pediatric infectious illness specialist at Pediatrix Medical Group in Nashville, TN notes, the CDC recommends that vitamin A be administered in extreme circumstances of the measles, particularly amongst kids who’re hospitalized. 

“Vitamin A shops within the physique have been seen to drop in measles circumstances, so supplementation with applicable doses of vitamin A may help make certain the immune system is optimized when a affected person is contaminated with measles,” says Dr. Hoy.

Low ranges of vitamin A throughout a measles an infection could cause eye harm, and may enhance the danger of significant sickness, like pneumonia and even loss of life, Dr. Linnon explains. As such, typically medical doctors will administer vitamin A to severely ailing kids to lower the possibilities of issues of the measles. 

Nonetheless, even in circumstances the place vitamin A administration could also be useful, it ought to solely be achieved below the strict supervision of a health care provider, who determines dosing and a secure and efficient dosing schedule.

Though the CDC recommends vitamin A supplementation in some extreme circumstances of measles, it’s not completely clear that it’s a useful suggestion for everybody.

“There’s robust proof for the usage of vitamin A in low resourced nations with excessive charges of vitamin A deficiency in lowering issues from measles, however no stable proof for its use in excessive revenue nations,” Dr. Madni shares.

The Risks of Vitamin A Supplementation

The AAP notes of their warning, no dad or mum ought to strive vitamin A supplementation for measles on their very own, as an excessive amount of vitamin A could cause vital points for kids.

“Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which signifies that whenever you take an excessive amount of it sticks round in your fats cells and accumulates,” explains Molly O’Shea, MD, a pediatrician at Birmingham Pediatrics + Wellness Middle and residency teacher at Youngsters’s Hospital of Michigan. “In distinction, when you took an excessive amount of Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin, you’d pee out any further your physique does not want.”

Dr. O’Shea additional explains how vitamin A overdosing is particularly regarding whenever you take large doses over a brief time frame, as is beneficial in a case of measles–and it may shortly construct up in your fats tissues.

“For all of those causes, consulting with a pediatrician and giving the complement below their care is necessary,” she says.

In accordance with Rebecca Fisk, MD, pediatrician at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, vitamin A taken in extreme portions can result in toxicity, inflicting the next signs:

• dizziness
• nausea
• diarrhea
• headache
• bone ache
• bone thinning
• pores and skin irritations/rashes
• liver harm