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Seawater nasal spray helps kids with colds

BRNO, Czech Republic (UPI) -- A saline nasal wash made from processed seawater may improve nasal symptoms in children with colds, researchers in the Czech Republic said.

Dr. Ivo Slapak of Teaching Hospital Brno and colleagues randomly assigned 401 children ages 6 to 10 with cold or flu to two treatment groups -- one receiving standard medication and the other also receiving a nasal wash with a modified processed seawater solution.

"Patients were observed for a total of 12 weeks, from January to April 2006, during which health status, symptoms and medication use were assessed at four visits over the course of the trial," the study authors said in a statement.

For children in the nasal wash group, the formula was administered six times per day during the first phase and three times per day during the prevention phase, in one of three strengths.

The study, published in the Archives of Otolaryngology, found that by the second visit, the noses of patients using saline were less stuffy and runny. During the prevention phase, eight weeks after the study began, those in the saline group had significantly less severe sore throats, coughs, nasal obstructions and secretions than those in the standard treatment group.

Source:
Health & Fitness
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