The Czech scientists have discovered a new treatment for the common cold symptoms: a dose of salt water. As the authors noted in their study, nasal irrigation with a saline solution is a largely used remedy for common cold, but so far scientific evidence of its efficacy is rather poor.

In order the demonstrate the effects of saline nasal solution, Ivo Slapak, M.D., of Teaching Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic, and his colleagues selected a study group with 401 children age 6 to 10 with cold or flu.

The patients were assigned in two treatment groups, one receiving standard medication and the other receiving a nasal wash with a modified processed seawater solution.

The children in the nasal wash group received the formula for six times per day during the first phase and three times per day during the prevention phase, in one of three strengths: medium jet flow (9 milliliters per nostril), fine spray (3 milliliters per nostril) and a dual eye/nose formula with fine spray (3 millimeters per nostril).

The researchers have studied the little patients for 12 weeks and during the first three weeks they evaluated the acute illness.

After this first period, the noses of patients using saline were less stuffy and runny and 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.

During the same period, children using saline had fewer days of illness, missed school days or complications.

Though, the researchers said that is not clear whether the effect of the nasal saline solution is predominately mechanical, based on clearing mucus, or whether salts and trace elements in seawater solutions play a significant role.

Finding new ways of treating the symptoms of common cold is an important issue, especially because last week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a health advisory for to warn parents not to give children under age 2 over-the-counter cough and cold medicines “because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur.”

The FDA still has not decided if the over the counter drugs are appropriate for older children to continue using. A decision on this is expected by this spring, the deadline necessary to notify manufacturers before they begin production for next fall’s cold season.