Fake news in paediatrics – Prevention between self-diagnosis and medical advice

Health-related fake news in Switzerland leads to concrete health risks. Delayed treatment is one of the most dangerous issues. Treatable illnesses are neglected when parents believe they can treat them themselves based on incorrect information.

Incorrect self-medication also involves considerable risks: honey for infants under 12 months (botulism), essential oils for young children (breathing problems), or dosing errors with over-the-counter medicines. Research from the University of Bern warns that diagnostic errors caused by health wearables can have dramatic consequences for patients, especially for children whose parents use consumer devices for monitoring that are not validated for medical diagnosis.

Anti-vaccination narratives spread with particular force on social media and tap into parental fears. Myths about links between vaccinations and developmental disorders persist despite being scientifically disproved. The impact on herd immunity is measurable and puts vulnerable groups at risk.

Incorrect information about nutrition, such as extreme diets, can lead to malnutrition. Myths about developmental milestones put parents under pressure and lead to unnecessary interventions or missed screenings.

Excessive online research leads to chronic worry and hypervigilance. Loss of trust in healthcare professionals develops when online sources are seen as superior, which complicates the doctor-parent relationship. Family conflicts over treatment decisions put strain on couples and children, while unnecessary interventions create an additional burden.

Algorithms maximise engagement, not truth. Emotional and controversial content is prioritised. Echo chambers reinforce existing beliefs: for example, interactions with vaccine-sceptical content lead to more of the same content being shown, while differing information is filtered out.

Influencers without medical qualifications reach millions of followers. Their personal stories are seen as more authentic than professional advice. False information spreads around six times faster than true information. On social media, people also often refer to Brandolini’s law, according to which “the amount of energy needed to refute nonsense […] is an order of magnitude greater than that needed to produce it”

Health apps without medical validation are flooding the market. Switzerland does not have a comprehensive approval process, so quality varies greatly. Wearables for children are not designed for medical diagnosis and provide inaccurate readings.

Online symptom checkers cannot capture context and provide inaccurate assessments in more than 50% of cases. Documentation from the Canton of Zurich highlights that automated diagnostic systems involve new risks when they are used as a substitute rather than as a complement.

The physical practice environment is an underestimated prevention tool. Screens displaying verified health information on topics such as “Fever in children” or “Facts about vaccination” should be placed where they are clearly visible. Visual design with infographics is more effective than text-heavy leaflets.

QR codes linking to FOPH resources provide access to high-quality online information during waiting times. A whiteboard with the “Myth of the week” can provide information in an engaging way.

Anticipating common incorrect information found online is effective: “Many parents read online that fever is dangerous. In reality, fever is an important defence mechanism…” Open questions such as “Have you looked this up online?” create opportunities for dialogue without blame.

A non-judgemental approach is crucial. Better than “You shouldn’t believe that on the internet” is: “I understand that you wanted to inform yourself. Let’s look at it together.” “Yes, and…” approaches work better than direct refutation: “Yes, I can see your concerns, and let me show you why current research comes to different conclusions.”

Vaccination discussions require preventive myth-busting: “Some parents wonder whether vaccines overload the immune system. In reality, the immune system is exposed to thousands of antigens every day.”

Managing fever: “A fever below 39°C in a child who is otherwise alert does not need to be treated.” Use of antibiotics: “Antibiotics only work against bacteria, not viruses. They do not help in the case of a viral cold.” Developmental milestones: “Every child develops individually. The range of what is normal is wide.”

Research from the University of Zurich identifies four evidence-based principles:

1. Build trust: Trust develops over time. In early consultations, the focus should be on relationship-building, not on pushing against resistance.

2. Listen to parents as well as children: Active listening is essential. “I understand that you are very worried” validates emotions without confirming incorrect information.

3. Be transparent: In particular, provide honest information about risks. “Yes, side effects can occur. The most common are redness and a mild fever. Serious side effects are extremely rare.”

4. Give autonomy: Shared decision-making includes parents as partners. “What matters to you? What are your main concerns?”

Recognising parental expertise: “You know your child better than anyone. What have you noticed?” Valuing engagement: “I appreciate that you want to inform yourself” acknowledges the effort.

Shared decision-making: “Let’s look at it together…” instead of “Do this…” creates a partnership. Online information as a discussion topic: “That is an important question. Let’s take a closer look.”

Continuity of care builds trust. Digital communication channels for non-urgent questions lower the barrier to contact. Clear action instructions such as “Call us if: fever rises above 40°C, breathing difficulties…” provide reassurance. Follow-up after advice about incorrect information demonstrates genuine care.

• Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH): Evidence-based fact sheets on vaccinations in the three national languages
• Cantonal medical services: Regional and up-to-date recommendations
• Paediatrics Switzerland: Professional association recommendations for the Swiss context
• Swissmedic: Information on approved medicines

• PubMed and the Cochrane Library: Access to peer-reviewed studies for professionals
• NewsGuard: Credibility ratings for health websites

Templates and infographics from Paediatrics Switzerland and the FOPH are legally vetted and written in an easy-to-understand way. Multilingual documents in German, French, Italian and other languages are essential in Switzerland.

Starting situation: Family with their first child, unsettled by social media claims about multiple vaccinations. Concerns about “overloading the immune system” and autism.

Intervention: Structured 20-minute conversation with active listening, validation, infographic about the immune system, myth-busting with reference to studies, concrete risk-benefit figures. FOPH information sheets and visualisations of measles outbreaks.

Outcome: After taking time to reflect, the parents decided in favour of vaccination and felt they were being taken seriously. The time invested prevented a long-term refusal to vaccinate.

Problem: 40% of consultations for viral infections included explicit requests for antibiotics.

Solution: Poster in the waiting room: “Antibiotics do not help against colds!”, informational documents, looping video about resistance.

Outcome: After three months, requests dropped to 15%. The strategy was also successfully applied to fever management.

Concept: Monthly online Q&A session on specific topics (vaccinations, fever, nutrition, development) via secure video conferencing. Questions submitted anonymously in advance, recordings hosted on a protected website.

Outcome: The number of participants rose from 8 to 25–30 families. 92% feel better informed, 85% contact the practice first rather than searching online when they have questions. Measured trust increased.

The challenge of fake news in Switzerland is becoming ever more intense. Thanks to proactive strategies, systematic information, trust-based communication and guaranteed-quality resources, paediatricians can respond effectively. The key lies in combining prevention, trust-building and digital literacy to maintain the balance between parental self-diagnosis and professional paediatric advice. The time invested in in-depth informational discussions and the strategic design of the practice pays off in the long term and protects children’s health.

• AI in medical documentation: Legal frameworks and recommendations
• How individuals perceive and process diagnostic device errors: The roles of error magnitude, message elaboration, and information source credibility
• Enhancing the quality and safety of Swiss healthcare: Swiss National Report on Quality and Safety in Healthcare – Short Reports
• Management of safety information from clinical trials (Report of CIOMS Working Group VI)
• On assessing trustworthy AI in healthcare: Machine learning as a supportive tool to recognize cardiac arrest in emergency calls
• Research Institute: Healthcare transformation
• Emergency Severity Index, Version 4: Implementation handbook
• Evidence-based guiding principles to build public trust in personal data use in health systems
• Appendix 3: Do fathers care about their own immunisation status? The Child-Parent-Immunisation Survey and a review of the literature
• Entrustable professional activities and entrustment decision-making in health professions education