Nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by SARS-CoV-2: a narrative review

Introduction: The World Health Organization declared an end to the global emergency status of COVID-19 in May of 2023. However, the impact of COVID-19 is far from over. Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 continue to experience physiological, psychological, or cognitive symptoms, such as f...

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Main Authors: Song Li, Xi-Cai Sun, Zhong-Fei Wu, Li Hu, Jing-Jing Wang, Min Yin, Lei Cheng, De-Hui Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2024-09-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19234
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author Song Li
Xi-Cai Sun
Zhong-Fei Wu
Li Hu
Jing-Jing Wang
Min Yin
Lei Cheng
De-Hui Wang
author_facet Song Li
Xi-Cai Sun
Zhong-Fei Wu
Li Hu
Jing-Jing Wang
Min Yin
Lei Cheng
De-Hui Wang
author_sort Song Li
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The World Health Organization declared an end to the global emergency status of COVID-19 in May of 2023. However, the impact of COVID-19 is far from over. Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 continue to experience physiological, psychological, or cognitive symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and loss of smell or taste, known as long COVID. This review aims to describe the clinical characteristics of the upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) caused by SARS-CoV-2, and provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection by using nasal irrigation. COVID-19 and nasal irrigation: Nasal irrigation presents a promising adjunct to standard COVID-19 prevention and treatment protocols. This practice is theorized to diminish viral presence in the upper respiratory tract, a region identified as a primary site for SARS-CoV-2 replication and shedding. By facilitating the removal of viral particles and enhancing mucociliary clearance, nasal irrigation could potentially lessen the severity of URTI symptoms and slow transmission rates. The review consolidates current evidence of the efficacy and safety of this approach across various populations, underscoring its practicality in both preventive and therapeutic contexts. Conclusions: We recommend that saline nasal irrigation is an effective, safe and convenient strategy to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and alleviate the symptoms of URTI across various age groups.
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issn 1972-2680
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publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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spelling doaj-art-a93767bc0ba94684aa48aea25dcaa9d32025-08-20T03:52:39ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802024-09-011809.110.3855/jidc.19234Nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by SARS-CoV-2: a narrative reviewSong Li0Xi-Cai Sun1Zhong-Fei Wu2Li Hu3Jing-Jing Wang4Min Yin5Lei Cheng6De-Hui Wang7Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Clinical Allergy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rhinology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Clinical Allergy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rhinology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Rhinology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Clinical Allergy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology and Clinical Allergy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Rhinology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Introduction: The World Health Organization declared an end to the global emergency status of COVID-19 in May of 2023. However, the impact of COVID-19 is far from over. Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 continue to experience physiological, psychological, or cognitive symptoms, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and loss of smell or taste, known as long COVID. This review aims to describe the clinical characteristics of the upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) caused by SARS-CoV-2, and provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection by using nasal irrigation. COVID-19 and nasal irrigation: Nasal irrigation presents a promising adjunct to standard COVID-19 prevention and treatment protocols. This practice is theorized to diminish viral presence in the upper respiratory tract, a region identified as a primary site for SARS-CoV-2 replication and shedding. By facilitating the removal of viral particles and enhancing mucociliary clearance, nasal irrigation could potentially lessen the severity of URTI symptoms and slow transmission rates. The review consolidates current evidence of the efficacy and safety of this approach across various populations, underscoring its practicality in both preventive and therapeutic contexts. Conclusions: We recommend that saline nasal irrigation is an effective, safe and convenient strategy to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and alleviate the symptoms of URTI across various age groups. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19234upper respiratory tract infectionSARS-CoV-2COVID-19nasal irrigationsaline solution
spellingShingle Song Li
Xi-Cai Sun
Zhong-Fei Wu
Li Hu
Jing-Jing Wang
Min Yin
Lei Cheng
De-Hui Wang
Nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by SARS-CoV-2: a narrative review
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
upper respiratory tract infection
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
nasal irrigation
saline solution
title Nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by SARS-CoV-2: a narrative review
title_full Nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by SARS-CoV-2: a narrative review
title_fullStr Nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by SARS-CoV-2: a narrative review
title_full_unstemmed Nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by SARS-CoV-2: a narrative review
title_short Nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by SARS-CoV-2: a narrative review
title_sort nasal irrigation for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection by sars cov 2 a narrative review
topic upper respiratory tract infection
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
nasal irrigation
saline solution
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/19234
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