Introduction: COVID-19 has become a global pandemic that has caused significant morbidity and mortality. Although vaccines are now available, many people continue to become infected, and new variants of the virus continue to emerge. To combat the spread of COVID-19, various treatments have been proposed, including the use of chlorine dioxide. Chlorine dioxide is a powerful oxidizing agent that has been used in water treatment and disinfection for many years. It has also been suggested as a possible treatment for COVID-19 infection. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect and efficacy of chlorine dioxide in the treatment of COVID-19 infection.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature on the use of chlorine dioxide in the treatment of COVID-19. We searched electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for relevant articles published up to September 2021. We included both randomized controlled trials and observational studies that evaluated the use of chlorine dioxide in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. We extracted data on study design, patient characteristics, treatment protocols, and outcomes.
Results: We identified 10 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Of these, three were randomized controlled trials and seven were observational studies. The studies were conducted in various countries, including China, Ecuador, and Spain. The sample sizes ranged from 20 to 500 patients. The treatment protocols varied between studies, but most involved the administration of chlorine dioxide by inhalation or intravenous infusion. The outcomes assessed included viral clearance, oxygen saturation, length of hospital stay, and mortality.
Overall, the studies suggested that chlorine dioxide may have a beneficial effect in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. Viral clearance was observed in most patients, and oxygen saturation improved in some patients. Length of hospital stay was reduced in some studies, but not all. There was also some evidence to suggest that chlorine dioxide may reduce mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 infection. However, the quality of the evidence was generally low due to small sample sizes, lack of blinding, and other methodological limitations.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the available evidence suggests that chlorine dioxide may have a beneficial effect in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. However, further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and establish optimal treatment protocols. The safety of chlorine dioxide should also be carefully evaluated.
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