Mouthwash to treat COVID-related sore throat

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A recent study done by the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) Memorial Medical Center Research team showed that regular use of Difflam-C, a locally-available antiseptic gargle solution, significantly alleviates sore throat — a common symptom manifested in people diagnosed with COVID-19.

The in-vivo study was conducted on 219 COVID-19 patients from November 2021 until February 2022. During the study, respondents reported that the pain from their sore throat decreased significantly during the course of the treatment. “At specified time intervals, median VAS scores showed a decreasing trend from baseline until after 12 hours of Day 1 and are significantly different from baseline values (p<0.001). There were some participants whose sore throat pain was relieved within 30 minutes of first use of the solution which persisted even until after 12 hours,” said lead investigator Dr. Jennifer M. Nailes, MD, MSPH, Vice-President for Research of UERM Memorial Medical Center, Inc.

“There was a noticeable shortening of the course of the sore throat in the study subjects, with their use of Difflam-C during treatment. This gargle solution could be viewed as an effective treatment for patients with odynophagia (painful swallowing) or dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), conditions associated with severe sore throat among COVID-19 patients,” Dr. Nailes concluded.

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Difflam-C combines Benzydamine HCl and Chlorhexidine gluconate, resulting in a product that has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anesthetic, and antiseptic properties. These properties have made it popular in the Philippines, especially among doctors and healthcare professionals due to its efficacy in relieving sore throat as well as other symptoms of throat and mouth infections.

Though yet to be published by Acta Medica Philippina, a peer-reviewed general medical and health science journal, these results are extremely encouraging and present a positive step in addressing COVID-19 sore throat, using a widely available medicated gargle solution.

As cases rise and new Omicron variants are discovered, the results of this study could be valuable information in making the public more aware of clinically tested remedies to help address key symptoms like the COVID-19 sore throat. While antiseptic gargle solutions could be an effective treatment for COVID-19 sore throat, it does not address the virus itself. Medical professionals reiterated that getting vaccinated with boosters, the observance of standard health protocols, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are the current mainstays for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

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