Keep Your Kids Healthy: A Simple Method to Tackle Colds

A new study conducted at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland has discovered that saline drops can help reduce the duration of colds in children and even lower the chances of spreading the cold within the family. The research, presented at the European Respiratory Society's annual conference in Austria, involved 407 children up to the age of 6. Of this group, 301 developed a cold and were divided into two groups: one received nasal drops with a 2.6% saline solution, while the other received standard treatment.

The researchers found that children who received treatment with saline drops experienced cold symptoms for an average of six days, compared to eight days among those treated with other methods. This finding highlights the effectiveness of saline in shortening the duration of the illness. Additionally, a reduction in infection rates was found among the families of children treated with saline drops—46% compared to 61% in the control group.

Dr. Dov Chernin, a pediatric specialist, told N12 that the important finding is the use of a high concentration of saline (3%), which encourages the nasal membrane to reject viruses and reduces the typical cold secretions. This prevents nasal congestion and significantly reduces symptoms.

Doctors recommend using saline drops in cases of colds, but it is important to ensure direct application, as sprays often do not reach the deeper parts of the nose. For this, it is advised to lay the child on their back and drip about half a milliliter of the solution into each nostril. In cases of swallowing or feeding difficulties due to nasal blockage, a spray can be used to ease airflow temporarily.

Dr. Chernin adds that colds are especially common during transitional seasons and among young children exposed to infections in educational settings. Therefore, the use of saline drops may become an effective and readily available tool for parents, particularly nowadays.