A concerning and dangerous trend is circulating on social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. People are breathing in hydrogen peroxide through nebulizers to try to prevent or treat COVID-19.
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. Visit aafa.org/covid19 for information about asthma, allergies, and COVID-19.
Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a cleaner and stain remover, and can cause tissue damage if you swallow it or breathe it in. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:
"Hydrogen peroxide can be toxic if ingested, inhaled, or by contact with the skin or eyes. Inhalation of household strength hydrogen peroxide (3%) can cause respiratory irritation. Exposure to household strength hydrogen. peroxide can cause mild ocular irritation. Inhalation of vapors from concentrated (higher than 10%) solutions may result in severe pulmonary irritation."
A nebulizer is a “breathing machine” used to treat asthma. It turns liquid asthma medicine into a mist. You then breathe in the medicine through a mask or mouthpiece.
Only use asthma medicine prescribed by your doctor in your nebulizer. Other chemicals can be harmful to your lungs.
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