During a press briefing at Makati City this week, locally-available antiseptic gargle solution Difflam-C revealed the results of an in-vivo study conducted by the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (EURM) Memorial Medical Center Research team on the so-called COVID-19 Sore Throat.
The study focused on establishing whether the combination of Benzydamine HCl and Chlorhexidine gluconate in Difflam-C are effective in a real-world setting and was conducted on 219 COVID-19 patients from November 2021 until February 2022. This combination of active ingredients found in Difflam-C solution has been gaining popularity in the Philippines particularly among doctors and healthcare professionals, with the synergistic action of its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anesthetic, and antiseptic properties in relieving sore throat, as well as other symptoms of throat and mouth infection.
COVID-19 Sore Throat is the most common symptom and a tell-tale sign of people diagnosed with the viral disease.
Clinically-tested Efficacy in COVID-19 Patients
Lead investigators of the study have found that Difflam-C significantly relieves the COVID-19 patients’ sore throat and alleviated throat discomfort associated with difficulty and/or pain in swallowing. Results also show that it helps shorten the duration of the said condition of COVID-19 patients, with the VAS scores of participants significantly decreased during the course of treatment with Difflam-C.
“At specified time intervals, median VAS scores showed a decreasing trend from baseline until after 12 hours of Day 1 and is significantly different from baseline values (p<0.001). There were some participants whose sore throat pain were relieved within 30 minutes of first use of the solution which persisted even until after 12 hours,” according to Dr. Jennifer M. Nailes, MD, MSPH, Vice-President for Research of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc. Dr. Nailes is also the Lead Investigator for this study.
Gargle Against COVID-19 Sore Throat
“There was a noticeable shortening of the course of the sore throat in the study subjects, with their use of Difflam-C during treatment. This gargle solution could be viewed as an effective treatment for patients with odynophagia (painful swallowing) or dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), conditions associated with severe sore throat among COVID-19 patients,” Dr. Nailes added.
Though yet to be published by Acta Medica Philippina, a peer-reviewed general medical and health science journal, these results are extremely encouraging and present a positive step in addressing the COVID-19 sore throat, using a widely available medicated gargle solution such as Difflam-C in the study.
As cases rise and new Omicron variants are discovered, the results of this study could be valuable information in making the public more aware of clinically tested remedies to help address key symptoms like the COVID-19 sore throat. While Benzydamine HCl + Chlorhexidine gluconate (Difflam-C) could be an effective treatment for COVID-19 sore throat, getting vaccinated with boosters, the observance of standard health protocols, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are the current mainstays for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.