Nasal irrigation with seawater-derived saline improves cold symptoms

I'm thinking using sea salt, warm water and a nasal bulb (or neti pot) would work just fine.

RCT Shows Saline Lowers Illness Days and Use of Antibiotics in Children with Colds
(January 21, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Regular nasal irrigation with a seawater-derived saline solution improves nasal symptoms and may reduce a childs risk of recurrence of upper respiratory tract infections, according to research published the Archives of Otolaryngology.

Conservative treatment of respiratory illness in children and adults should include:

• Increased water intake and decreased caffeine and alcohol intake.

• Nasal saline irrigation.

• Addition of humidity in bedroom if significantly less than 50%.

Researchers from Teaching Hospital Brno randomized over 400 children aged 6 to 10 suffering from cold or flu to treatment with standard cold and fever medications or these same standard medications combined with nasal irrigation using an isotonic saline solution made from processed seawater. Patients were followed-up regularly for a total of 12 weeks. Parents of the children were instructed to use the nasal irrigation six times a day during the acute phase and then three times a day during the remainder of the study.

Those in the irrigation group saw benefits at follow up in the acute phase, when they had less nasal congestion and runniness. By eight weeks, these patients also had significantly less severe sore throats, coughs, nasal obstructions, and secretions than those not using nasal irrigation. In addition, significantly fewer children in the nasal irrigation group were using fever-reducing drugs (9% vs. 33%), nasal decongestants, mucus-dissolving medications or antibiotics (6% vs 21 %). They also experienced fewer days of illness, missed school days, and complications.

Today's research highlights the benefits of regular nasal irrigation with modified, processed seawater in children for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections. The therapy may offer benefits because it clears away mucous or because salt and trace elements in the seawater have other beneficial properties.

New Year

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