Given in conjunction with vaccines, studies show it can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, predisposition to Autism and a lowered response to the vaccines themselves.

…can you give a citation for this?

Slightly off topic: how did your little one respond to a bit of flat soda?

She threw it up within an hour. That was one day before we went to the ER. Or possibly the day of the ER. The timeline is starting to blur.

Andy

In other words, if a kid gets sick and is given Tylenol, right when that kid needs a hard working body, you knock it to the ground and disable the immune system.

This is currently causing a lot of controversy within the vaccine debate as Tylenol has been the prize choice by doctors (despite no scientific foundation). Given in conjunction with vaccines, studies show it can cause mitochondrial dysfunction, predisposition to Autism and a lowered response to the vaccines themselves.

Slightly off topic: how did your little one respond to a bit of flat soda?

I believe that most people know some dangers are associated with ibuprofen as well a acetaminophen.

I had no idea about such dangers. Hopefully I’ve provided helpful information to someone.

How is the missing information about your daughter’s condition in anyway related to the “hidden dangers with ibuprofen [and] flu treatment”?

To me, they are connected. Here’s what I mean:

My wife and I subscribe to a couple “parent magazines”. These are sometimes helpful, since they talk about developmental stages for your children, give ideas for cheap or free activities, and review various kid toys and books. In each magazine, though, are what my wife and I call “I-almost-killed-my-kid-stories”. They’re stories sent in by parents whose children had an experience that almost turned dangerous or deadly. Some of these seemingly exist just to scare you: “My toddler almost strangled herself on a window shade cord.” Or “My son broke his arm in his crib.”

One thing that’s struck me as a young, first-time parent is the amount you have to know to simply keep your kid out of danger. Not the stuff you know intuitively, not being simply alarmist, but the stuff you’d never know without research or having others’ help. Like:

-Don’t give your kid peanuts or honey within the first year, since that increases the chances of food allergies.

-The baby’s immune system isn’t fully developed until three months or so, so take extra care not to expose her to germs.

-Put your baby on her back when she sleeps to decrease the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

- Keep pregnant women away from cats and cat poop, as exposure to certain feline parasites can cause miscarriage.

The article I wrote was meant to be one of these types of warnings, where you may not have known about this without someone telling you, where the information presented was contrary to what the “average person” might think, where you may not have acquired this information by the act of parenting.

This is my answer to your questioning the connection between topic and title. The title provides what I think is the popular assumption (there are no hidden dangers with flu treatment / ibuprofen). The article – and, increasingly, my followup comments! – are the detail why this is not the case.

I understand that it is your right to publish what you wish to publish.

Since I run the website, yes, this is true. And while I’ve rejected quite a few article ideas, you might be surprised: I’ve published many articles by others that I don’t agree with. If someone is a good writer, sincere, has a topic supported by at least some in the skeptical community, and supports their case with critical thinking, I might just publish it. Even if don’t agree with the conclusion. To me, the skeptical method of analysis is just as important as the facts of the article.

I don’t mean to sound harsh and if I appear to be I am sorry.

Not at all – Critique away! You are of course allowed to disagree with me. That’s one of the reasons I created DBS: “To provide a forum for people to share their articles and debate respectfully with others.“

Andy

what I hear is “be skeptical of doctors”

Far from it. I like doctors a lot. I put a lot of trust in them. I respect their expertise. I am impressed at the mindset and dedication that a person must have to be a doctor.

As I summarized a while ago:

Many many thanks to the brilliant, inspiring staff at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. They are experts in their fields, they moved fast, they took great care of us, they’re great with kids, and they saved my daughter’s life.

Andy

I was wondering what you had in mind when you posted this episode.
What would you say is the take home message for the skeptical community?

I’d use a less specific version of the article title. Something like:

“Just because a drug is used all the time doesn’t mean it’s safe.”

Do you believe that one or both of them were unaware of anything you brought up here?

I don’t think so. I instead think they didn’t realize – or my wife and I didn’t make clear – the extent of my daughter’s flu/dehydration. It seems more likely this was an error of missing information, not a lack of knowledge.

Andy