The compound has been fraudulently marketed as an ingestible cure for a wide range of diseases, including childhood autism and COVID-19. Children who have been given enemas of chlorine dioxide as a supposed cure for childhood autism have suffered life-threatening ailments. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that ingestion or other internal use of chlorine dioxide (other than perhaps oral rinsing under dentist supervision) has no health benefits and it should not be used internally for any reason.