Doctors are warning against ‘dangerous’ claims by TikTok influencers that raw potato juice has the power to cure a sore throat.
Strep is a bacterial infection that has sparked public health fears after a deadly resurgence in the UK and US this winter.
The bug can be fatal to children and older adults if left untreated.
But videos, which have received hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok, support the idea that raw mashed potatoes can treat Strep A.
Doctors have warned that promoting the idea is “dangerous” as there is “no solid evidence that potatoes treat strep throat.”
Blogger and author Allie Casazza claimed to her 12,200 TikTok followers that she cured her 14-year-old daughter’s “super nasty strep” with homeopathy.
Another TikTok user offered advice on which potato varieties to use depending on whether you live in the US or the UK
If you don’t take antibiotics, the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and cause a range of complications, including acute rheumatic fever and scarlet fever.
Blogger and author Allie Casazza claimed to her 12,200 followers on TikTok that she cured her 14-year-old daughter’s “super nasty strep” with homeopathy.
The video received hundreds of thousands of views before it was removed.
She gave her daughter a mashed potato to drink and claimed the infection was “completely gone within two hours”.
“If you squeeze a potato and drink the juice, it kills strep immediately,” she said.
Another video on Tiktok even suggested the best potato varieties to use based on whether you live in the US or the UK.
But nurses, doctors and pediatricians were quick to act to correct the claims, pointing out that Ms Casazza’s daughter’s infection could have gone away on its own.
DR. Iddy Mughal, known as Dr. Idz on TikTok said it was “one of the most dangerous videos” he had ever received.
He warned in a video: “Do not treat your child with potato juice if they have severe throat problems.
“If a potato juice seems to relieve a sore throat, the relief of symptoms does not mean the bacterial infection is dead.
“If your child has a sore throat, get him treated quickly and properly.”
There may be some health benefits to drinking potato juice. The vegetable is rich in fiber, vitamins A, B and C, but also calcium, iron and copper
But potato juice does not have the power to achieve proper treatment for Strep A antibiotics
Symptoms of Strep A include skin rash and sores all over the body, flushed cheeks, sore throat, muscle aches and fever. It is a relatively mild disease that does not cause many infant deaths each year
Dr. Zachary Rubin, a pediatrician practicing in Chicago, added: “There is no firm evidence that potatoes treat strep throat. Antibiotics treat laryngitis.”
However, drinking potato juice can have a number of other health benefits.
The vegetable is rich in fiber, vitamins A, B and C, but also calcium, iron and copper.
READ MORE: You’ve been storing potatoes wrong all along
For years, experts have been warning us against refrigerating potatoes because it poses a cancer risk.
But potato juice does not have the power to achieve proper treatment for Strep A antibiotics.
Strep A, or strep throat, is caused by the group A Streptococcus bacteria. It is a relatively common infection in children.
About 30 percent of children with a sore throat have the highly contagious disease.
While the vast majority of Strep A infections are relatively mild, the pathogen can sometimes lead to the potentially life-threatening rheumatic fever if left untreated.
Sister Allie said on TikTok that “any delay in care because you’re drinking potato juice can cause lifelong damage.”
In extremely rare cases, the bacteria can cause a fatal disease called invasive group A streptococcal disease (iGAS).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it is investigating an increase in iGAS infections in the United States.
The autumn wave came from September to November, earlier than usual.
One of the leading theories for the outbreak was that lockdowns, mask requirements and social restrictions deprived children of exposure to essential germs that provide protection against the bacterial infection.
Americans may be especially vulnerable to a Strep A crisis because of an ongoing national shortage of the first-line antibiotic amoxicillin.
About 1,500 to 2,000 Americans die from Strep A each year, mostly older adults.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
