Apparently children who have had good nutrition would just 'shrug it off' if they contracted measles. Why don't they say that in the UK?

[bumbleymummy]

Article is here discussing the impact that poor nutrition has on children in developing countries.

Considering that the majority of children in the UK have no problem with good nutrition (fruit shoots and Greggs aside ) why aren't parents being reassured rather than terrified into having their children vaccinated with images of coffins plastered over the promotional material?

I slightly misread what you meant by 'that approach'... I was thinking about the use of images of death in information rather than 'push the idea of death being a consequence of not vaccinating'

well.. I don't think one image in a sheet in a section of 'possible...' amounts to 'pushing death as a consequence of not vaccinating'. It is a merely a statement of death being a possible outcome of measles. Which even in this country is true, even though it is not common.

There's the 'anti vax' label again.

So would you be happy with it being put on BF material and/or formula cartons then? It's merely a statement of it being a possible outcome even though its not common...

What about if we put it on the side of paracetemol and other medications as well?

Your constant comparison between measles and ff is meaningless. We are constantly told of the benefits of bf and knowing the benefits is not the reason people generally don't bf - way more complex than that!

Leaving aside the question of whether formula feeding or paracetamol lead to death (and because aspirin has been linked to death in a very small number of cases we are advised not give it to children), there is atleast an upside to giving a child formula (prevents starvation if no other feeding options) and paracetamol (reduces fever).

Is there an up side to a measles epidemic?

I realise that some people do not agree with vaccination, and that is fair enough. However to start from a position that measles is no more harmful than formula milk is just plain wrong.

It is on the literature accompanying paracetamol, isn't ? Along with may cause headaches!

So would you be happy with it being put on BF material and/or formula cartons then

If you put it on a formula carton, someone would be bound to think that meant it would be better to use cows milk or mashed potato or something. Formula is the best alternative to BF so its ridiculous to suggest such a thing . And as I've said, there isn't a clear causal link between FF and infant mortality. So this is a stupid analogy.

It is on the literature accompanying paracetamol, isn't ?

the words - not the 'scary' coffin. Medicines data sheets aren't infographics - if they were, maybe the symbol would be used (among others for rashes etc)

Who is starting from a position of 'measles is no more harmful than formula milk'?

Domestic, but maybe if we scare people with a few tombstones on the side of the container (after all it is possible even if its not common) then more people would continue BF. ( for some reason I feel the need to put a disclaimer after this for you because I think you get the impression that I think we should put tombstones on the side of formula cartons/on BF leaflets - I am not saying that. I'm wondering why one is considered acceptable but the other is not.

Curlew, I haven't seen any tombstones on the side of a Calpol bottle recently. Maybe they should put them on the accompanying literature though just so it's easy for people to understand...

Grimma, deaths have been caused by formula though - without even going into the 'its not as good as bf because it doesn't protect against x,y,z' formula itself can be contaminated.

Replace tombstones with coffins for Curlew.

Or stick with tombstones if you prefer... :)

Ofcourse they do have those very scary signs showing people falling off cliffs along the Pembrokeshire coastal path. It's a wonder people aren't fleeing over the Severn bridge in droves what with the scary signs.

The risk of electrocution signs are pretty graphic too.

Can you link to any deaths caused by properly done formula feeding please?

Well there is your answer then. Measles is more harmful than formula milk.

Merry, they can both lead to death - moreso in developed countries, yes, but both can lead to death.

Curlew, what do you mean by 'properly done' - are you trying to rule out human error? Because unfortunately making up formula is part of FF so if there's a risk there, there's a risk.

examples of contaminated formulas leading to withdrawals

Developing not developed

Contaminated anything could lead to death.

Does that negate the point that formula milk can be contaminated and can lead to deaths? I don't think we can discount human error in making up feeds either. Most of the mums I know who use formula don't make up the bottles according to guidelines.

Even breast milk.

I haven't seen any tombstones on the side of a Calpol bottle recently
Given that paracetamol overdose is used as a means of suicide, that could be a 'drink me' sign for some . You have to think these things through a bit more carefully.

Right Grimma, that would be the reason for them not putting it there...

Clearly some of us are not going to agree on this. Just shows you how powerful propaganda can be!

By that reasoning, there should be a "danger of death" warning on a packet of Bisto. If you make it up with water with poo in it, you might die of food poisoning.

This is a very, very silly discussion.

Just shows you how powerful propaganda can be!

To counteract years of anti MMR propaganda without which the outbreak in Wales probably wouldn't have happened, you need something a bit more striking than you would otherwise.

So you can't actually link to any evidence showing that feeding a child formula milk has been directly linked to a death in this country.

bumbleymummy.
Do you have children? How old roughtly are they?
Did you have any of them vaccinated?

Hi btw. Late to thread I know!
[I dont think you will mind though!]

And again, incorrectly made up formula milk may be linked to death, but correctly made up formula milk is also linked to not dying of starvation for those babies where there is no other alternative.