Saline Nasal Wash Helps Kids Fight Colds, Flu

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The nasal wash formula was given six times a day for eight weeks, then three times a day for the next four weeks.

By the second visit, patients receiving the nasal wash had less stuffy and runny noses. By eight weeks, those in this group had less severe sore throats, coughs, nasal obstructions and secretions.

Also, after week eight, only 9 percent of children in the saline group were using fever-reducing drugs, compared with 33 percent in the control group; only 5 percent were using decongestants, versus 47 percent in the control group; and only 6 percent of saline recipients were using antibiotics, compared with 21 percent in the control group. Children using the nasal wash also had shorter illnesses and fewer missed school days.

Compliance, however, may become an issue outside the context of a clinical study. "They did it six times a day," DeWitt pointed out. "How many parents are going to do that six times a day?"

The trial was funded by French company Goemar Laboratoires, which makes the product, Physiomer, that used in the study.

"As far as I know, Physiomer is not available in the U.S. It is the leading brand in Europe," Skoupa said. "The manufacturing process uses electro-dialysis (not simple dilution of seawater) to achieve isotonicity. This results in preserving the majority of minerals and trace elements in similar concentrations to seawater from the Atlantic Ocean."

An isotonic solution has the same concentration of salt as the human body.

"I would not just simply expect a normal saline solution to be the same thing," DeWitt said.

More information

The Medical College of Wisconsin has more on respiratory infections in children.