Researchers have verified that the common practice of gargling with salt water may have a positive impact on respiratory symptoms and combat Covid, potentially reducing hospitalization rates. Presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in California, the study revealed that both low and high-dose saline regimens were linked to lower hospitalization rates in SARS-CoV-2 infections compared to a control group.
Conducted by the University of Texas between 2020 and 2022, the study randomly selected 58 individuals aged 18-65 with a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. These participants underwent either low or high-dose saline regimens for 14 days and were compared to a reference group of 9,398 individuals with Covid who did not receive instructions for gargling or nasal rinsing. The hospitalization rates in the low- (18.5%) and high- (21.4%) saline regimens were significantly lower than in the reference population (58.8%), with no notable difference between the low and high-saline regimens.
According to Jimmy Espinoza from the university, “Our goal was to examine saline nasal irrigation and gargling for a possible association with improved respiratory symptoms associated with coronavirus infection. We found that both saline regimens appear to be associated with lower hospitalization rates compared to controls in SARS-CoV-2 infections. We hope more studies can be done to further investigate the association.”
This new study aligns with evidence from earlier small studies suggesting that saline irrigation of the mouth and nose may reduce the Covid viral load, aiding in its removal from the throat and nasal passages. While infectious-disease experts appreciate the findings, they emphasize the need for additional research and caution that gargling and nasal washing should not replace vaccination or medication treatment.
Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, not involved in the research, commented, "It's an interesting concept and idea, and a potential adjunct preventative along with other non-pharmaceutical interventions. However, gargling with salt water should still be considered secondary relative to the importance of having high or adequate levels of virus-neutralizing antibodies from Covid vaccinations.
