The false claim that inhaling steam prevents someone from catching COVID-19 has resurfaced on social media, prompting health experts to warn that the fake treatment poses risks.
One video, which has been shared nearly 1,000 times on Facebook, shows a man walking out of a homemade sauna (here).
“Build your sauna / steam challenge!” Is the caption of the video. “Put gum and guava leaves in the boiling pots … mhlonyane tea and all .. smoke / steam the virus: your health is in your hands!”
This is stated in a separate report, which claims that “Covid -19 can be killed by inhaling steam from the nose and mouth” and that “if all the people would start a steam-running campaign for a week , the pandemic will end “(here).
This advice, which is inaccurate and potentially dangerous, was only unmasked by Reuters in March 2020 (here).
Steam is not recommended as a treatment for the coronavirus by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO).
A CDC representative told Reuters earlier that he was unaware of scientific studies showing that steam therapy helps the coronavirus (here).
Inhalation of steam was used as a home remedy for colds and upper respiratory tract infections.
But scientific studies have found that it has few proven benefits and that it can cause serious adverse side effects such as burns (here) (here).
“The usual technique of covering the head with a towel over a pan filled with hot water is dangerous because of the steam, the hot liquid or even the possible contact with the container,” said a study by the Spanish Association for pediatrics warned.
Birmingham Children’s Hospital has issued a warning about the risks associated with steam inhalation.
“Our specialist Burns team once again warns families to be aware of the fire hazard associated with inhaling steam following a helpless myth that spreads that inhaling COVID-19 can prevent COVID-19,” the hospital said on Facebook (here) said.
‘Unfortunately, our center has seen an increase in young people in need of care after suffering such burns from boiling water inhaling steam. Such injuries can be life-changing. Please do not take the risk. ”
VERDICT
Untrue. Inhalation of steam COVID-19 has not been shown to be present and carries the risk of serious burns.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work here.