Health warning: COVID-19 patients could spread virus while doing 'suob'
Steam inhalation or suob may offer relief for COVID-19 patients, but it can potentially spread the virus further if not done right.
How can steam inhalation further spread COVID-19 and how can you lessen the risk? / Source: Pexels
This is one of the important health warnings given by pulmonologist and biochemist Dr. Earl Sempio during Alagang Unilab's 'To Steam or Not to Steam: A Discussion on Steam Inhalation as a Health Remedy,' a virtual event hosted by talk show host Boy Abunda.
During the discussion, Dr. Sempio strongly discouraged doing steam inhalation or suob for COVID-19 patients and those with other infectious conditions like Tuberculosis, because the likelihood of generating infectious droplets is high due to aerosolization.
“Kapag sinabi kasi nating 'aerosolize,' ibig sabihin yung solution, yung fluid nadadala sa hangin. So, kapag nagtutuob yung risk natin na mag-aerosolize, ibig sabihin yung fluids natin na maaring merong virus, merong infectious particles, lalong dadami
“Steam inhalation loosens secretions, that's why a COVID patient shouldn't do it. It poses a great threat to everyone around the patient especially if he starts coughing in the middle of treatment.”
Pulmonologist and biochemist Dr. Earl Sempio / Source: Buensalido PR
Furthermore, the Department of Health and various medical societies have already issued warnings against steam inhalation for COVID-19 patients.
The Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) said in a statement, “Scientific studies suggest that steam inhalation is indeed effective against symptoms of colds and that it increases nasal patency… However, tuob/suob cannot be recommended as a standard care treatment for COVID-19 until it is proven by controlled clinical studies.”
The Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians have also issued a joint statement saying: “Steam inhalation does not kill the virus and may cause potential harm. We cannot in good conscience endorse its preventive or curative measure.”
Dr. Earl Sempio with host Boy Abunda and Dr. Roland Panaligan during the virtual discussion / Source: Buensalido PR
Dr. Sempio also cleared that they are not refuting the fact that suob does provide relief from COVID-19 symptoms.
They simply want to inform people about its dangers, especially the fact that it can actually further spread the virus.
And since steam inhalation or suob has been practiced by Filipinos for many generations, it can honestly be quite difficult to talk everyone out of it, especially if it does offer relief.
So, Dr. Sempio emphasized that if COVID-19 patients want to preform suob or steam inhalation for relief, then they must do it while wearing a face mask to lessen the risk of spreading the virus.
“Ang pasyente na umuubo kahit may TB siya, kahit merong COVID 'yan, kung nakasuot ng mask, 'yung risk o 'yung chance na mailabas niya 'yung aerosole, lahat pupunta doon sa mask. Mapipigilan natin 'yung paglipat (ng virus) doon sa susunod ng pasyente.”
Dr. Sempio then reiterated that suob is absolutely not a cure or treatment for COVID-19. He further advised that if people are experiencing red flag symptoms such as difficulty breathing, then they must go see a doctor.
Want more lifestyle content like this? Head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.
And for updates on the Coronavirus Disease pandemic, visit GMA's COVID-19 page.
You might also want to read about facts and myths about COVID-19.