Key Takeaway
Nasal irrigation and sprays reduce COVID-19 severity, viral load, and symptom duration, with some evidence of lower infection rates.
Summary
This systematic review evaluated the impact of nasal irrigation and nasal sprays on COVID-19 outcomes, including infection risk, viral load, symptom severity, and disease duration. The authors identified studies examining various saline and antiseptic nasal irrigation protocols used both prophylactically and as treatment.
The findings suggest that regular nasal irrigation can reduce nasopharyngeal viral load, shorten symptom duration, and decrease the severity of COVID-19 illness. Several studies also reported lower rates of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers and other high-risk groups who practiced routine nasal irrigation.
The review highlights nasal irrigation as a low-cost, accessible intervention that may complement vaccination and other preventive measures. The overall direction of evidence supports nasal irrigation as a beneficial adjunctive strategy for managing respiratory viral infections including COVID-19.