Simple Nasal Drops Cut Cold Duration by 2 Days in Children

[Social Media]

 

A new study by UK researchers has found that hypertonic saline nasal drops can significantly reduce the duration of cold symptoms in children, cutting the illness short by two days. This inexpensive and straightforward method not only helps kids recover faster but also lowers the risk of spreading the virus to family members. “Children have up to 10 to 12 upper respiratory tract infections, what we refer to as colds, per year, which have a big impact on them and their families,” said Steve Cunningham, a professor at the University of Edinburgh. “There are medicines to improve symptoms, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, but no treatments that can make a cold get better quicker.”

 

In the study, researchers demonstrated to parents how to make and administer saltwater drops to their children's noses. Each child received three drops in each nostril at least four times a day until their symptoms subsided. The study included 150 children who received the saline drops and 151 who continued with their usual cold treatments. “We found that children using salt water nose drops had cold symptoms for an average of six days where those with usual care had symptoms for eight days,” Cunningham explained. “The children receiving salt water nose drops also needed fewer medicines during their illness.”

 

The study also revealed that families using the nasal drops experienced a lower transmission rate of colds, with only 46% of these households reporting additional family members catching the virus, compared to 61% in households that followed typical treatment methods.

 

The nasal drops were well-received by parents, with 82% reporting that the drops helped their child recover quickly, and 81% expressing their willingness to use them in the future. This positive feedback suggests a practical and effective approach to managing common colds in children.

 

These findings will soon be presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna, Austria. Chief investigator Sandeep Ramalingam, a consultant virologist, noted that using saltwater solutions to treat colds is a common practice in South Asia, highlighting the simplicity and accessibility of this approach.

 

Cunningham explained the science behind the effectiveness of the nasal drops, stating that the chloride in the saline solution helps the cells lining the respiratory tract produce hypochlorous acid, a natural defense against viruses. “By giving extra chloride to the lining cells, this helps the cells produce more hypochlorous acid, which helps suppress viral replication, reducing the length of the virus infection, and therefore the duration of symptoms,” Cunningham said.

 

This study offers hope for parents seeking a safe, affordable, and efficient way to manage colds in children, potentially changing the way we approach this common illness in the future.

 

Credit: Sky News 2024-09-07

 

 

 

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[scorecard]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

A new study by UK researchers has found that hypertonic saline nasal drops can significantly reduce the duration of cold symptoms in children, cutting the illness short by two days. This inexpensive and straightforward method not only helps kids recover faster but also lowers the risk of spreading the virus to family members. “Children have up to 10 to 12 upper respiratory tract infections, what we refer to as colds, per year, which have a big impact on them and their families,” said Steve Cunningham, a professor at the University of Edinburgh. “There are medicines to improve symptoms, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, but no treatments that can make a cold get better quicker.”

 

In the study, researchers demonstrated to parents how to make and administer saltwater drops to their children's noses. Each child received three drops in each nostril at least four times a day until their symptoms subsided. The study included 150 children who received the saline drops and 151 who continued with their usual cold treatments. “We found that children using salt water nose drops had cold symptoms for an average of six days where those with usual care had symptoms for eight days,” Cunningham explained. “The children receiving salt water nose drops also needed fewer medicines during their illness.”

 

The study also revealed that families using the nasal drops experienced a lower transmission rate of colds, with only 46% of these households reporting additional family members catching the virus, compared to 61% in households that followed typical treatment methods.

 

The nasal drops were well-received by parents, with 82% reporting that the drops helped their child recover quickly, and 81% expressing their willingness to use them in the future. This positive feedback suggests a practical and effective approach to managing common colds in children.

 

 

These findings will soon be presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna, Austria. Chief investigator Sandeep Ramalingam, a consultant virologist, noted that using saltwater solutions to treat colds is a common practice in South Asia, highlighting the simplicity and accessibility of this approach.

 

Cunningham explained the science behind the effectiveness of the nasal drops, stating that the chloride in the saline solution helps the cells lining the respiratory tract produce hypochlorous acid, a natural defense against viruses. “By giving extra chloride to the lining cells, this helps the cells produce more hypochlorous acid, which helps suppress viral replication, reducing the length of the virus infection, and therefore the duration of symptoms,” Cunningham said.

 

This study offers hope for parents seeking a safe, affordable, and efficient way to manage colds in children, potentially changing the way we approach this common illness in the future.

 

Credit: Sky News 2024-09-07

 

 

 

Get the ASEAN NOW daily NEWSLETTER - Click HERE to subscribe

 

 

 

Interesting - three Thai grandkids continuously have colds / runny nose etc. Is this a packaged product available in Thai pharmacies?

 

[msbkk]

6 minutes ago, scorecard said:

Interesting - three Thai grandkids continuously have colds / runny nose etc. Is this a packaged product available in Thai pharmacies?

 

There are different saline nasal sprays available in Thai pharmacies.

[john donson]

been doing that for years, with stuffy nose or a cold...

 

your local MD prefers antibiotics for everything and nothing... kachien $$$

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Now, there's a new covid vaccine that uses nasal vaccination. It's been astonishingly effect in animal tests.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50133-2#:~:text=Vaccination protected the index hamsters,transmission in the lungs (Fig.