Impact on health of the infodemic and misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Most scientists are focused on controlling the COVID-19 pandemic from a biological point of view and very few have focused on the infodemic pandemic.

Objective: Detect false information and how it has an impact on health

Material and methods: A descriptive study was carried out, the universe was the different news or published information. False information was searched through the different mass media during the months of July and August 2020 and a table was constructed with data from: media, false information and impact on health.

Results: In Mexico, a total of 28,000,000 news items and 12,000,000 videos were reported. In Mexico City, 17,700,000 news stories and 6,980,000 videos of COVID-19 were reported. It remains to add everything from social networks. As false information, it was found the Use of solution, chlorine dioxide tablets, as an alternative means, to prevent, treat COVID-19 and its impact on health: methemoglobinemia; changes in the electrical activity of the heart; Acute liver failure.

Conclusions: False information can have a negative impact on health such as fear, aggression and can cause illness and even death.