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Updated: May 10, 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, Chandigarh, India.meenusingh4@rediffmail.com
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|June 5, 2013
Summary
Steam inhalation for the common cold offers no consistent benefits. More rigorous research is needed to determine its effectiveness for symptom relief and viral shedding.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Heated, humidified air (steam) is a traditional remedy for common cold symptoms.
- The proposed mechanisms include improved mucus drainage and direct viral inactivation by heat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of steam inhalation in treating the common cold.
- Assessed impacts on symptom severity, viral shedding, and nasal resistance.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified through comprehensive database searches.
- Included studies involved participants with common cold or experimentally induced colds.
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 significant effect on viral shedding or antibody titers was observed; nasal resistance effects were inconsistent. Minor side effects like nasal irritation were reported.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support routine steam inhalation for common cold symptom management.
- Further high-quality, double-blind, randomized trials with standardized protocols are required to establish definitive benefits.
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