BERLIN. The German Society for Hospital Hygiene (DGKH) recommends incorporating virucidal gargles and virucidal nasal sprays more into the prevention of corona infection. From this we can derive practical advice for “occupationally exposed personnel” – i.e. also for teachers and day-care center specialists: gargle with a combination of essential oils and ethanol (e.g. Listerine® Cool mint) in the mornings and evenings! Green tea is enough for children.
“The entry point for SARS-CoV-2 is the nose and throat area,” the recommendation explains. “Since a large proportion of those infected release the virus before the first symptoms appear, protective measures that reduce the viral load at the portals of entry, ie in the nasopharynx, make sense, since the probability of catching the infection increases with the extent of exposure. Since the initial viral load also influences the severity of the disease following infection, virucidal antiseptics at the portals of entry can even alleviate an infection that manifests itself in the course of the disease.”
And further: “Gurgling has long been used to reduce upper respiratory tract infections and to treat bacterial/viral infections (eg strep throat, cold) but has fallen out of fashion in Europe. Washing hands with soap and water and gargling with saline solution were recommended to the population in Germany as a preventive measure by the Reich Health Council during the Spanish flu in 1918. In the former GDR, schoolchildren were advised to gargle with a diluted solution of potassium permanganate when they entered summer camp.”
“Effective gargling is usually only possible from school age with a little practice”
The beneficial, calming effect of salty air on the respiratory tract has been known for centuries. It stimulates the natural self-cleaning of the airways and prevents the mucous membranes from drying out. “In addition, the moistening of the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose counteracts the adhesion of viruses and is therefore preventively effective even without the use of solutions/sprays with an antiviral effect.”
From this, the authors derive the specific recommendation in the event of an increased incidence of infection: “Gurgle in the mornings and evenings with a combination of essential oils and ethanol (e.g. Listerine® Cool mint). For people with alcohol intolerance or particular sensitivity to mucous membranes, the formulation without alcohol (eg Listerine® Cool Mint, mild flavor) should be used instead of the combination of essential oils with alcohol. Since healthy children are not at risk from the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection (most of them become mildly ill or are asymptomatic), green tea or aronia juice is more suitable for children because of the better taste. With a little practice, effective gargling is usually only possible from school age.” News4teachers
Here is the full recommendation.
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