Abstract

Dr. Ivan Minić*

ABSTRACT

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by a new virus that first emerged in December 2019 and has since spread to many countries. In the current situation where COVID-19 is rapidly spreading worldwide and the number of cases in Europe is rising with increasing pace in several affected areas, there is a need for immediate targeted action. There were strong evidences of human-to-human transmission of 2019-nCoV among the close contacts of infected patients. The most common symptoms at onset of COVID-19 illness are fever, cough, and fatigue, while other symptoms include sputum production, headache, haemoptysis, diarrhoea, dyspnoea, and lymphopenia. The virus lingers on the mucous membranes of the nose and in the oral cavity before being transmitted to the lungs. Method: The aim of this paper is to consider additional measures for the prevention of viral infection. Steam inhalation is one of the most widely used home remedies to soothe and open the nasal passages and get relief from the symptoms of a cold or sinus infection. Also called steam therapy, it involves the inhalation of water vapor. The introduction of water vapor into the nasal spaces and sinuses can also affect viruses and in this situation the virus COVID -19. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI), commonly known as 'bleach," is widely accepted as being a safe and effective antiseptic against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The author's recommendation is that each person uses NaOCl at a concentration of 0.05% or 0.1% 2 times a day after contact with another person and after spending time outside the home. It is thought that mouthwashing alone will contribute to the reduced concentration of viruses in the oral cavity and NaOCl will also exert its antiviral effect. Result: The result of this research could be to prevent the spread of the virus into the deeper parts of the airways, which is an important prevention of the complication of viral infection. Conclusion: Based on available data on the virus COVID-19, its transmission, retention in the nasal mucosa and oral cavity the application of water vapor to the nasal cavities and the application of a solution of NaOCl could contribute to the reduction of virus activity in the indicated regions of the body and thus reduce the possibility of virus transmission in deeper parts of the airways. These preventive measures have been used in medicine for many years, have no negative effects on health and can be applied in the situation of a pandemic virus COVID-19.