Washington, Oct 5 (IANS) Aspirin could have been responsible for the steep death toll in the 1918 flu pandemic, says a new study.
High aspirin dosing levels used to treat patients during the 1918-1919 pandemic are now known to cause, in some cases, toxicity and a dangerous build up of fluid in the lungs, which may have contributed to the incidence and severity of symptoms, bacterial infections and mortality.

Additionally, autopsy reports from 1918 are consistent with what we know today about the dangers of aspirin toxicity, as well as the expected viral causes of death.

The motivation behind the improper use of aspirin is a cautionary tale, said study author Karen Starko of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

In 1918, physicians did not fully understand either the dosing or pharmacology of aspirin, yet they were willing to recommend it.

Its use was promoted by the drug industry, endorsed by doctors wanting to “do something”, and accepted by families and institutions desperate for hope, says an IDSA release.

“Understanding these natural forces is important when considering choices in the future,” Starko said. “Interventions cut both ways. Medicines can save and improve our lives. Yet we must be ever mindful of the importance of dose, of balancing benefits and risks, and of the limitations of our studies.”

These findings will appear in the November issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.