Simple Saline Nasal Drops Can Help Shorten Colds in Children, Study Finds

Colds are a common occurrence in children, often resolving on their own. While typically considered mild, colds can cause parental anxiety due to the potential for serious respiratory infections, fever, and spreading to other family members. Thankfully, a new study suggests that a simple solution, saline nasal drops, may shorten the duration of colds and reduce the risk of transmission.

Saline Nasal Drops: A Simple Solution for Shortening Colds

Researchers at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria, have discovered that saline nasal drops can effectively reduce the duration of colds in children by up to two days. This finding holds significant promise for parents and children battling the frequent occurrence of colds.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, UK, involved 407 children under six years old. Half of the parents were instructed on how to administer saline nose drops to their children, while the other half received standard care. The results were clear: children using saline nose drops experienced cold symptoms for an average of six days, compared to eight days for those who received standard care. Moreover, children using saline nose drops required less medication during their illness.

How Saline Nasal Drops Work

Saline solutions, containing sodium and chloride, work by providing the cells in the nose and throat with additional chloride. These cells utilize chloride to produce hypochlorous acid, a natural antiviral agent. By increasing chloride availability, the cells produce more hypochlorous acid, which effectively suppresses virus replication, ultimately reducing the duration of infection and associated symptoms.

Beyond Shortening Colds: Reducing Transmission

The benefits of saline nose drops extend beyond shortening the duration of colds. The study also revealed that using saline nose drops significantly reduced the transmission of colds within households. The transmission rate dropped from 61 percent with standard care to 46 percent with the use of saline nose drops.

Global Potential for a Simple Solution

The study’s findings highlight the potential of saline nasal drops as a simple and inexpensive intervention that can be implemented globally. Providing parents with a safe and effective method to manage colds in their children can significantly reduce the health and economic burdens associated with this common condition.

“This inexpensive and simple intervention has the potential to be implemented globally. Giving parents a safe and effective way to limit the impact of colds on their children and families will reduce the health and economic burden of this common condition,” said Professor Alexander Möller, Head of the ERS Pediatric Assembly.