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A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), Jadavpur University, and Northwestern University in the United States studied the mechanism of Covid-19 virus transmission from the nose to the throat and lower respiratory tract.
The researchers used mathematical models to demonstrate how viruses that infect the mucous lining of the respiratory tract spread to the lungs, causing serious illnesses. The study’s findings were published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Physiology.
Prof Mahesh Panchagnula, Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras said, “We examined the last theory through mathematical modelling of droplets moving from the nose and throat to the deep lungs. Our model showed that pneumonia and other lung distress can occur within 2.5 to 7 days after the first symptoms of a COVID-19 infection occur. This happens when the infected mucous droplets are transported from the nose and throat to the lungs.”
The study’s findings include two important takeaways: sneezing and coughing medications can help prevent the formation of infected mucous droplets in the nose and throat, as well as their transmission into the deep lungs.
The researchers discovered that the transport of virus-laden mucous droplets can be reduced by avoiding activities that cause the droplets to form in the first place. Sneezing or coughing, for example, can dislodge infected mucous in the nose and throat as droplets.
They discussed how cough syrups or expectorants can be used to control such droplet formation. This would not only limit the spread to others, but it would also prevent an additional source of self-aerosolized droplets from being inhaled into the lower respiratory tract.
The study also concluded that vaccination can aid in the prevention of pneumonia and other serious lung diseases.
Source:IT
