(January 21, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Rinsing the nasal passages out with processed seawater may help children recover faster from colds and flu and may even help prevent future infections, according to research published in the Archives of Otolaryngology.

Here are some facts about children and colds:

•    It is normal for children to have six to eight colds a year.

•    There is no cure for the common cold. Antibiotics will not help. Do not give over-the-counter cold remedies to a child under 12 without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

•    You can make children with a cold more comfortable by placing a cool mist humidifier in their room and treating fever, aches, and pain with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give products containing aspirin to children.

Researchers from Teaching Hospital Brno randomly divided over 400 children aged 6 to 10 suffering from a cold or flu into one of two groups. The first group of children received treatment with standard cold remedies. The second group received these same remedies, but their parents were also instructed to rinse their nasal passages out with a saltwater solution derived from processed seawater. The parents were told to give their children a nasal irrigation six times a day while they were ill, for up to three weeks, then three times a day for up to 12 weeks.

Within the first few weeks, the children receiving nasal irrigation suffered less from congestion and runny noses than those not receiving this treatment. By the end of eight weeks, they also had less severe sore throats, coughs, nasal obstructions, and secretions than those not using nasal irrigation. In addition, they were using fewer cold remedies, including fever-reducers, nasal decongestants, mucus-dissolving medications, and antibiotics. They also experienced fewer days of illness, missed school days, and complications.

Today's research highlights the benefits of regular nasal irrigation for children with colds and flu. The saltwater-based solution may improve nasal symptoms by clearing away mucous or because the salt and other trace minerals in the solution have other benefits.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.