The number of Covid-19 cases is rising again in Ukraine and around the world, but scientists have reported a new way to protect against infection. A study has shown that a common antihistamine nasal spray can significantly reduce the risk of the disease.
According to the Independent, in a mid-stage trial involving 450 volunteers, German researchers tested the effectiveness of the drug azelastine. Participants used either a nasal spray containing azelastine or a placebo three times a day for 56 days.
The results were revealing: Covid-19 was confirmed in only 2.2% of participants in the azelastine group, compared to 6.7% in the placebo group. Moreover, those who used the drug had fewer symptomatic cases of coronavirus, respiratory infections, and colds caused by rhinoviruses. In particular, only 1.8% of participants in the azelastine group had a rhinovirus infection, compared to 6.3% in the placebo group.
The study's lead author, Professor Robert Bals from Saarland University Medical Center, emphasized that if further trials confirm these results, azelastine could become an affordable preventive measure for vulnerable populations, especially during peak outbreak periods or before travel.
