Saline drops and sprays have already been linked to reduced cold symptoms in adults and now a study suggests they also work in children
By Grace Wade
5 September 2024
Saline nasal drops could stop children sneezing sooner
ONFOKUS.COM, SEBASTIEN COTE/Getty Images
Nasal saline drops seem to speed our recovery from common colds. In the latest study on this, children treated with a homemade version of these drops stopped experiencing symptoms, such as sneezing and a blocked nose, two days earlier than those who didn’t.
More than 200 viruses can cause cold-like symptoms, which makes it difficult to develop general yet effective treatments that target them. As a result, most cold therapies only ease symptoms, rather than shortening their duration.
But research increasingly suggests that saline solutions may be an exception. Studies have found that adults who use saline nasal drops or sprays for a cold experience reduced symptoms, recover faster and are less likely to pass the infection on.
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Now, Steve Cunningham at the University of Edinburgh in the UK and his colleagues have tested the approach in children. The parents of 150 youngsters with cold symptoms were asked to deposit three drops of a saline solution into each of their child’s nostrils at least four times a day, starting within 48 hours of symptoms appearing and continuing until they resolved. The water-based solution, which the parents mixed themselves, was 2.6 per cent salt.
A separate group of 151 children received their parents’ usual cold care, such as giving over-the-counter medications or encouraging rest. All the children were younger than 7 years old and their symptoms were recorded by their parents.