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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
09:02
Infection of Primary Nasal Epithelial Cells Grown at an Air-Liquid Interface to Characterize Human Coronavirus-Host Interactions
Published on: September 22, 2023
Heated, humidified air for the common cold
1Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, India, 160012.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 13, 2011
Summary
Steam inhalation for the common cold offers no consistent benefits. More rigorous trials are needed to determine if heated water vapor effectively treats cold symptoms or reduces viral shedding.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Heated, humidified air is a traditional remedy for common cold symptoms.
- The theory suggests steam aids mucus drainage and heat may inactivate the cold virus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of heated water vapor (steam) inhalation for common cold treatment.
- Assessed impact on symptoms, viral shedding, and nasal resistance.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified through major databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Current Contents).
- Included studies involved participants with common cold or experimentally induced colds.
- Methodological quality assessment of included trials.
Main Results:
- Six trials with 394 participants were analyzed.
- Pooled data from three trials suggested potential symptom relief (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.60), but overall symptom indices were equivocal.
- No consistent benefits for viral shedding or nasal resistance; one study showed worsened nasal resistance, another improvement. Minor side effects like discomfort were noted.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support consistent benefits of steam inhalation for common cold symptoms.
- Further high-quality, double-blind, randomized trials with standardized protocols are required.
- Not recommended for routine treatment of common cold symptoms pending further research.
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