Steam Inhalation cannot be considered to be a Medical Treatment: Tamil Nadu Health Minister

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Monday said that the practice of inhaling steam is spreading among the public. It has been shared on social media that such practices will prevent COVID-19. But he said that steam inhalation cannot be considered to be a medical treatment.

As the state government has laid down a treatment protocol for COVID-19 according to the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), people should not resort to self-medication as it can be a great risk to life.

"The hot pressurised air could affect the lungs and when people inhale with their mouths open, the chances of the virus spreading to the next person is very high. Infected persons should reach the hospital and get medical help rather than indulging in self-medication," he said.

To include other systems of medicine, Subramanian said that the government has set up Siddha COVID care centres to provide special treatment based on the guidance provided by the committee formed by the state government.

As per the sources, Vanathi Srinivasan, BJP Mahila Morcha President and Coimbatore South MLA, inaugurated a mobile steam inhalation vehicle on Saturday. At MGR Central Railway Station, the Tamil Nadu Railway police installed a steam inhalation unit and passengers actively participated in the event. Similar videos of such mass steaming events were circulated on social media.

Pulmonary specialist Dr Prasanna Kumar Thomas, said that steam inhalation is totally unscientific. He said that COVID-19 doesn't cause sinusitis. It doesn't even cause too much nasal discharge and the infection hits the throat and goes downwards.

"If you keep inhaling with the same machine again and again, you are going to transmit this virus, no matter how many times you sanitize it. This is totally unscientific. I don't know where people got this idea from. If you want to inhale, please do so within the confines of your home. People should understand that steam inhalation does not cure COVID-19 and it is dangerous because can also transmit the virus," he added.

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