When we think social media stories couldn’t get any worse, we hear new ones (this time about an autism cure) that leave us wondering how some people can stoop so low to stay relevant and gain followers. Do some people wear their brains on their knees and disregard others’ lives? Guess we’ll never know.
Recently, Kerri Rivera, a controversial figure in the autism community, has faced widespread criticism for promoting the use of chlorine dioxide (CD), a chemical bleach, as a purported “cure” for the developmental disorder called autism (Autism spectrum disorder).
Despite being previously barred from promoting such treatments in Illinois due to unsubstantiated health claims, Rivera continues encouraging their use in Mexico. Her misleading posts include the ones linked below.
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As per The Independent, several children have reportedly fallen seriously ill after their parents followed this type of absurd advice. As per messages obtained by the news outlet via Rivera’s close group of followers, parents have complained that their kids have been affected by several side effects after using chlorine dioxide, including vomiting, rashes, seizures, and chemical-smelling urine. Sad, right?
“I have noticed a high ammonia-smelling urine in my daughter’s pull-ups. I imagine these are the parasites dying and leaving behind their toxins. Is this a good sign to be smelling this?” one parent wrote,” However, Kierri Rivera claimed these reactions are part of the body’s detoxification process.
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Yet these claims have no scientific backing and have been marked as dangerous by experts and the UK Health Security Agency.
Furthermore, Kerri Rivera’s initial bizarre claims about autism include the notion that it is curable since it happens due to contact with “parasites” and “worms.”
The bleach-like substance can disinfect drinking water in small amounts, though it is highly unsafe to consume. As per WebMD, do not confuse chlorine dioxide supplements, which usually show another ingredient on the label (sodium chlorite), with the one mentioned above.
In severe cases, it can lead to hemorrhagic or hypovolemic shock, life-threatening conditions caused by a sudden drop in blood volume. For children, the effects can be even more damaging, including bowel lining damage, seizures, and strange stool color. Looking at her negligence, a public petition calling to remove Rivera’s social media presence has gathered over 34,000 signatures.
Meanwhile, to debunk the myth, influencers like Kerri Rivera believe that autism is a disease. Still, it is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication, behavior, and sensory processing challenges. Therefore, there is no cure for it, only control.
In addition, the condition is not caused by parasites or worms but by genetic and environmental factors. Stories like these make us repeatedly urge parents to seek reliable, evidence-based support from trusted medical professionals and institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.
Several popular figures have slammed Kerri Rivera’s views and called them out strongly. Jolanta Lasota of Ambitious about Autism emphasized that fake cures being pushed online pose serious threats to children’s health. Similarly, Tim Nicholls of the National Autistic Society called Rivera’s claims “sickening.”
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Therefore, parents are urged to double-check what they read online and only rely on verified and official sources. They should remain vigilant and avoid harmful treatments or substance-based cures seen online without proper research.
Disclaimer: This story is written after referring to several secondary sources and is not a replacement for medical advice.
