CHARLOTTESVILLE (CVILLE RIGHT NOW/UVA HEALTH) – In what UVA Health Blue Ridge Poison Center Director Dr. Christopher Holstege says is a preventative measure, he’s urging not to take Vitamin A supplements in an attempt to prevent contracting the measles. In a Thursday media conference call, Dr. Holstege said taking Vitamin A is not a preventative for contracting the illness, and too much Vitamin A can, in fact, cause an array of health effects that includes liver damage. He says it’s true a Vitamin A regimen can be included in treatment of someone who has contracted the illness, but it’s almost always in someone who is malnourished.

Dr. Holstege says they’re not seeing Vitamin A overdose cases at the Blue Ridge Poison Center at this time, and would like to keep it that way by getting the word out now. They’re concerned about misinformation that has surged along with the numbers of measles cases in the U.S. and the surge seen in both measles and Vitamin A poisoning cases in Texas. A measles case was discovered in an international passenger recently at Dulles airport, and Dr. Holstege with that in mind wants to get the facts out.

He says the most effective preventative measure is vaccination. He notes measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can cause severe health complications, and even death, particularly in children. Symptoms may include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body. There is no specific cure for measles. Treatment primarily focuses on providing comfort and relief from the symptoms.
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