Fact Check: Medical professionals warn against inhaling hydrogen peroxide for treatment of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses; viral post is fake

New Delhi (Vishvas News): COVID-19 is spread all across the world and so is fake news around coronavirus and other related illnesses. A video shared on social media claims that inhaling a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and saline solution will kill all pathogens and viruses in your nose, throat, and lungs. Vishvas News investigated and found the post to be fake. Medical experts warn against inhaling hydrogen peroxide for the treatment of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Claim

A video shared on Facebook shows a child inhaling some liquid. The video claims that inhaling a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and saline solution will kill all pathogens and viruses in your nose, throat, and lungs.

The archived version of the post can be checked here.

We also received the video on Vishvas News Whatsapp Chatbot claiming it to be the treatment for COVID-19.

Investigation

Vishvas News started its investigation by searching on websites of health organizations. We found that hydrogen peroxide is not listed on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a treatment for COVID-19.

According to Webmd, Hydrogen peroxide can be used as an antiseptic on the skin to prevent infection of minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.

We further searched on Google using appropriate keywords and found an advisory on the website of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). The advisory warned against inhaling hydrogen peroxide. AAFA also posted on its Facebook page: “DO NOT put hydrogen peroxide into your nebulizer and breathe it in. This is dangerous. It is not a way to prevent nor treat COVID-19.”

We also found a fact sheet from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. It stated: “Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a cleaner and stain remover and can cause tissue damage if you swallow it or breathe it in.”

Vishvas News also found an article on the website of Health.com. The headline of the article read: No, Inhaling Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor to Cure COVID-19 Won’t Work, Doctors Warn: ‘Please Do Not Do This’.

Vishvas News contacted Dr. Nikhil Modi, Pulmonary and critical care medicine specialist, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. He said: “Hydrogen peroxide can b an irritant, completely unsafe to use.

We also spoke to Dr. Anant Parashar, General Medicine, Pushpanjali Hospitals, Gurugram. He also warned against the inhalation of Hydrogen Peroxide. He said: “Hydrogen peroxide can be toxic for the lungs if inhaled. It can also cause alveolar damage and hypoxia.”

We scanned the profile of the Facebook user Tereza Del Rio who posted the fake video. We found that the user is based out of Canada.