Nasal saline irrigation may be beneficial for acute upper respiratory tract infections

January 01, 0001

Nasal saline irrigation may be beneficial for acute upper respiratory tract infections

Clinical Question: How effective is nasal saline irrigation in treating the symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs)?

Bottom line: Nasal saline irrigation is a safe treatment that may be of some benefit for some patients. Most results showed no difference between nasal saline treatment and control. In adults, 1 study showed a mean difference of 0.3 day (out of 8 days) for symptom resolution, but this was not significant. Nasal saline irrigation was associated with less time off work in 1 study, and there was a trend towards less antibiotic use. Minor discomfort was not uncommon, and 40% of infants did not tolerate nasal saline drops.

Caveat:The existing evidence is too limited to recommend nasal saline irrigation as a standard intervention. Included trials were too small and had too high a risk of bias to be confident about the possible benefits of nasal saline irrigation in acute URTIs.

Context: URTIs, including the common cold and rhinosinusitis, are common afflictions that cause discomfort and debilitation, and contribute significantly to workplace absenteeism. Treatment is generally by antipyretic and mucolytic drugs, and often antibiotics, even though most infections are viral. Nasal saline irrigation is often employed as an adjunct treatment for chronic or allergic sinusitis, but little is known about its effect on acute URTIs.

Cochrane Systematic Review:Kassell JC et al. Saline nasal irrigation for acute upper respiratory tract infections. Cochrane Reviews, 2010, Issue 3. Article No. CD006821. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006821.pub2. This review contains 3 studies involving 618 participants

Cochrane PEARLS Practical Evidence About Real Life Situations. No. 283, October 2010. .
Written by Brian R McAvoy. Published by the Cochrane Primary Care Group

Category: R. Respiratory. Keywords: upper respiratory infection, nasal, saline irrigation
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 18 January 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care

To obtain Pearls directly, sign up here for the english language version

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.