Steam inhalation in treatment of the COVID-19 patients: A Review

Abstract

Steam inhalation is widely practiced home remedies in upper respiratory tract infections or upper airway allergy for soothing the airway and opening of the nasal passages. Clinical presentations of the upper airway such as nasal block and nasal discharge are often relieved which improve the quality of life. Mild to moderate symptoms of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections are usually benefited from the steam inhalation. Severe symptomatic patients are often associated with dyspnea and need ventilator or oxygen, so unable to do steam inhalation. The COVID-19 infection is highly contagious disease caused by the novel coronavirus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2).This virus is enveloped virus which is sensitive to the heat and destroyed by the temperature tolerable to the human being. The viability of the virus is usually lost at higher temperature like in steam inhalation and so useful for treatment of the COVID-19 infections. Steam inhalation is a cheap and easily available therapeutic modality for COVID-19 infection. Steam inhalation can be used as adjuvant treatment by COVID-19 patients along with use of the face mask, social distancing and hand wash. There is little work on the steam inhalation for treatment of the COVID-19 infections. This review article discusses on the benefit of the steam inhalation and used as an adjuvant treatment during COVID-19 pandemic.