Decrease of Medical Knowledge during the Pandemic through the Internet and Social Networks: The Brazilian Case

Document Type : Letter to the Editor

Author

Science and Education Department. State University of Minas Gerais and University Center of Formiga. Brazil

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic was a tragedy worldwide, with countries suffering variously as the disease spread. Epidemiological studies have shown that several factors have influenced this spread and the number of deaths (1). The high average age of the population, and the climate of each region, among other factors, contributed to a variation in mortality in the countries. However, scientific denialism seems to have been one of the decisive reasons for determining the number of deaths in each country. Just remember that the two countries that registered the most deaths were the USA and Brazil, two nations that were governed in the most critical periods of the pandemic by governments that denied the severity of the disease, its basic prevention and containment measures, and that were disseminators of false news about Covid-19 (2).

Keywords


Velasco JM, Tseng W-C, Chang C-L. Factors affecting the cases and deaths of COVID-19 victims. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(2):674. 
Ricard J, Medeiros J. Using misinformation as a political weapon: COVID-19 and Bolsonaro in Brazil. Harvard Kennedy Sch Misinformation Rev. 2020; 
Orso D, Federici N, Copetti R, Vetrugno L, Bove T. Infodemic and the spread of fake news in the COVID-19-era. Eur J Emerg Med. 2020; 
Santos-Pinto CDB, Miranda ES, Osorio- de-Castro CGS. “Kit-covid” and the Popular Pharmacy Program in Brazil. Cad Saude Public. 2021;37:e00348020. 
Rubin R. When physicians spread unscientific information about COVID- 19. Jama. 2022;327(10):904–6. 
Silva HM. Antibiotics against viruses: Brazilian doctors adrift. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021;1–5. 
Eze P, Mezue KN, Nduka CU, Obianyo I, Egbuche O. Efficacy and safety of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 patients-a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Cardiovasc Dis. 2021;11(1):93. 
Perez J, Roustit M, Lepelley M, Revol B, Cracowski J-L, Khouri C. Reported adverse drug reactions associated with the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ann Intern Med. 2021;174(6):878–80. 
Furlan L, Caramelli B. The regrettable story of the “Covid Kit” and the “Early Treatment of Covid-19” in Brazil. Lancet Reg Heal. 2021;4. 
McMichael AJ, Lindgren E. Climate change: present and future risks to health, and necessary responses. J Intern Med. 2011;270 (5):401–13.