Hydrogen peroxide as an auxiliary treatment for COVID-19 in Brazil: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as mouthwash and nasal spray on symptom relief in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. METHODS: Patients positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), who were treated in a hospital or at home, and patients' family members (not positive for SARS-CoV-2), were randomized into 2 groups: experimental (1% H2O2 for gargling, 0.5% H2O2 for nasal wash), and control. Patients gargled the solution 3 times a day, and applied the nasal spray twice a day, for a 7-day period. Family members received the same treatment as the treated COVID-19 patient. The researchers contacted patients every 2 days over an 8-day period. An average post-treatment interval of 8 days passed before testing family members. RESULTS: The most frequent symptoms on day 0 were cough, loss of taste, and hyposmia; there were no significant differences between groups, independent of the period. The symptom of dyspnea presented a significant difference between days 2 and 4 (p<0.05). Among family members, 86.0% had no antibodies, 2.3% had antibodies, and 11.6% had active infections (4 in the experimental group and 6 in the control group). The most frequent adverse effects in the H2O2 group were a burning throat and nose. CONCLUSIONS: H2O2 was not effective for the relief of COVID-19 symptoms and was associated with reports of transient adverse effects.

Effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide as auxiliary treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Brazil: preliminary results of a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the form of mouthwash and nasal spray as an auxiliary treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Forty hospitalized patients who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction test were evaluated. They were randomly divided into an experimental group (n= 20; gargling with 1.0% H2O2 and nasal wash with 0.5% H2O2) or a control group (n= 20). The solutions were used for 7 days and the patients were monitored every 2 days, for a total of 8 days. At check-ups, patients were asked about their symptoms and possible adverse effects of the solutions. The presence and severity (mild, moderate, or severe) of symptoms were recorded. Data were compared using the Student test and the Fisher exact test (α= 0.05). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the length of hospital stay (p= 0.65). The most frequent symptom on day 0 was coughing (72.0% in the experimental group and 76.5% in the control group), which abated over time. There was no significant difference between the groups in the evaluated symptoms. Most (75.0%) of the patients in the experimental group presented a reduction in dyspnea between days 0 and 2. Few patients reported adverse effects from the use of the solutions. CONCLUSIONS: H2O2 as a mouthwash and nasal spray is safe to use. There is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that H2O2 is effective as an auxiliary treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Perfil Epidemiológico de Pacientes Diagnosticados com Carcinoma Epidermoide Oral em Passo Fundo, Brasil / Epidemiological Profile of Patients Diagnosed with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Passo Fundo, Brazil / Perfil Epidemiológico de Pacientes Diagnosticados con Carcinoma Epidermoide Oral en Passo Fundo, Brasil

Introdução: O carcinoma epidermoide é uma patologia que corresponde a 90% dos tumores malignos da cavidade oral. Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil epidemiológico, o tratamento e a sobrevida dos pacientes diagnosticados com carcinoma epidermoide oral em um hospital referência na Região Norte do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Método: Estudo observacional retrospectivo, com análise dos prontuários dos pacientes com diagnóstico dessa patologia, no período de 1993 a 2008, no banco de dados desse hospital. Os dados foram analisados pelo programa estatístico SPSS versão 18 utilizando testes paramétricos e não paramétricos. Resultados: Foram coletados e analisados dados de 303 prontuários que revelaram que 88,4% eram homens, leucodermas, com maior incidência na faixa etária entre 51 e 60 anos. A associação de álcool e tabaco foi observada em 84,7% dos pacientes. O local mais afetado foi a língua (45,5%) e a maioria dos casos apresentou estádios tardios III e IV com uma sobrevida de 17,83 meses. Embora o tratamento cirúrgico tenha sido o mais realizado (55,9%) e apresentado a maior sobrevida, não foi observada significância estatística deste com relação aos demais tratamentos (p=0,185). Conclusão: O perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes é muito semelhante aos registros de vários países. Neste caso, o diagnóstico tardio diminuiu significativamente a expectativa de vida dos pacientes (2,5x), e o tratamento executado bem como o local inicial da lesão não tiveram influência significativa na sobrevida

Introduction: The squamous cell carcinoma is a pathology accounting for 90% of all the malignant tumors found in the oral cavity. Objective: This study aimed to assess the epidemiological profile, treatment, and survival of patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma at a reference hospital of the northern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Method: Retrospective observational study with analysis of the patients' charts diagnosed with this condition from 1993 to 2008 at this hospital database. The data collected were analyzed using the statistical program SPSS version 18 using parametric and non-parametric tests. Results: From the 303 charts analyzed, 88.4% were men, Caucasian, leukoderma, with higher incidence in the age range between 51 to 60 years old. The association of alcohol with tobacco was detected in 84.7% of the patients. The most affected site was the tongue (45.5%), and most of the cases were diagnosed in late stage III and IV, with survival of 17.83 months. Although surgical treatment has been performed more frequently (55.9%) and presented higher survival rates, its statistical significance in comparison with other treatments was not demonstrated (p=0.185). Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of patients is very similar to the charts of several countries. In the present case, the late diagnosis significantly decreased life expectancy of patients (2.5-fold), and that the treatment, and the initial site of the lesion had no significant influence on survival

Introducción: El carcinoma de células escamosas es una patología que corresponde aproximadamente a 90% de los tumores malignos de la cavidad bucal. Objetivo: Evaluar el perfil epidemiológico, el tratamiento y la sobrevida de los pacientes diagnosticados con carcinoma epidermoide oral en un hospital referencia en la región norte del estado de Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo con los prontuarios de los pacientes con el diagnóstico de esa patología en el período de 1993 a 2008, en el banco de datos de este hospital usando el programa estadístico SPSS versión 18 usando pruebas paramétricas y no paramétricas Resultados: Se recogieron y analizaron datos de 303 prontuarios, que revelaron que 88,4% eran hombres, leucodermas, entre 51 a 60 años. La asociación de alcohol y tabaco fue observada en el 84,7% de los pacientes. El local más afectado fue la lengua (45,5%) y la mayoría de los casos ha presentado estadios tardíos III y IV con una sobrevida de 17,83 meses. Aunque el tratamiento quirúrgico fue el más realizado (55,9%) y presentado la mayor sobrevida, no se observó la significancia estadística de éste con relación a los demás tratamientos (p=0,185). Conclusión: El perfil epidemiológico de los pacientes es muy similar a los registros de varios países. En este caso, el diagnóstico tardío disminuyó significativamente la expectativa de vida de los pacientes (2,5x) y el tratamiento realizado, así como el lugar inicial de la lesión no tuvieron influencia significativa en la sobrevida