Researchers have recently found saline drops as an "extremely cheap" solution to help shorten colds in children and prevent the spread of the illness in a household.
A recent study conducted by researchers at ELVIS-Kids in the United Kingdom found that using hypertonic saline nasal drops can help shorten a child's cold by at least two days.
At least 407 children aged 6 and up participated in the controlled trial. For the study, researchers taught parents how to make a hypertonic saline solution. These nasal drops were then given to some parents whose children developed a cold while other parents were provided the usual cold care.
Study Finds Saline Nasal Drops Effective for Children's Colds
Of the 407 participants, 301 children developed a cold. For 150, their parents were allowed to apply the hypertonic saline drop to their children's noses. Specifically, they were asked to make three drops per nostril for a minimum of four times a day.
Children who developed a cold and received nasal drops recovered after an average of six days. In comparison, those who only received the usual cold care recovered after eight days, the study found.
In addition to a faster recovery, researchers also found that children who received the nasal drops needed less medicine.
Furthermore, the saline drops helped prevent the spread of cold to other family members in the household. Only 46% of family members of children who received the drops got sick. This is compared to 61% among the family members of children who got the usual care.
"This extremely cheap and simple intervention has the potential to be applied globally," Professor Alexander Moeller, Head of the ERS Pediatric Assembly, said.
Saline Solution Use for Colds, Other Illness
The researchers said the study hoped to expand on the use of salt-water solutions in South Asian countries as a treatment for colds and other illnesses.
The ELVIS-Kids trial is the first to investigate the possible impact of saline nasal drops in children with colds, Moeller said. The results will be presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Vienna, Austria.
The team is hoping to further expand the study, this time focusing on the potential effect of saline nasal drops on wheezing in children with colds.
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