If you have a child, you know all too well how often they have upper-respiratory tract and sinus infections. According to recently published studies, commercially available sinus and cold medications are ineffective at best and in some cases even dangerous for use by children.

For treatment of cold symptoms, try using a nasal wash solution made from processed seawater. It can also prevent respiratory infection from coming back.

During the study, 390 children were tested over a period of 6 weeks. The noses of the children in the nasal saline solution group were less stuffy and runny. During the prevention phase, the children in the saline solution group had substantially fewer sore throats, nasal obstructions/secretions, and coughs compared to the children in the standard treatment group who did not receive the saline solution.

The researchers also found that during the prevention phase fewer of the saline group children were using fever-reducing drugs (9% vs. 33%), nasal decongestants (5% vs. 47%), mucus-dissolving medications (10% vs. 37%) or antibiotics (6% vs. 21%). Those in the saline group also experienced fewer days of illness and complications during the same period.

Available nasal wash products include Ocean Premium Saline Nasal Spray and SinuCleanse.