Visualization of sneeze ejecta: steps of fluid fragmentation leading to respiratory droplets.

ABSTRACT: Coughs and sneezes feature turbulent, multiphase flows that may contain pathogen-bearing droplets of mucosalivary fluid. As such, they can contribute to the spread of numerous infectious diseases, including influenza and SARS. The range of contamination of the droplets is largely determined by their size. However, major uncertainties on the drop size distributions persist. Here, we report direct observation of the physical mechanisms of droplet formation at the exit of the mouth during sneezing. Specifically, we use high-speed imaging to directly examine the fluid fragmentation at the exit of the mouths of healthy subjects. We reveal for the first time that the breakup of the fluid into droplets continues to occur outside of the respiratory tract during violent exhalations. We show that su

SUBMITTER: Scharfman BE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7088075 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature