New Possibilities of Irrigation Therapy for the Prevention of Respiratory Diseases in Children

Study Objective: Compare the effectiveness of the preventive action of a slightly hypertonic seawater solution with brown algae extract and isotonic seawater solution concerning respiratory diseases in children; evaluate the safety.

Study Design: Comparative observational clinical study.

Material and Methods. A study included 100 patients aged 1 to 13 years: 50 patients received a slightly hypertonic seawater solution with brown algae extract and 50 patients received isotonic seawater solution. The course included 3 cycles of 15 days with 15-day intervals between them, 1 insufflation 2 times a day. Frequency, duration, severity of respiratory diseases, duration of antibiotic treatment were assessed, and adverse reactions were monitored.

Study Results. In slightly hypertonic seawater solution with brown algae extract group, there were 1.00 [1.00–2.00] episodes of respiratory diseases per patient during the observation period, in comparison group — 2.00 [1.25–3.00] (p = 0.001). The duration of respiratory symptoms in seawater solution with brown algae extract group was 8.00 [5.00–14.00] days, in comparison group — 16.5 [9.25–22.0] (p < 0.001). Antibiotic was prescribed to 1 child from seawater solution with brown algae extract group, and to 12 children in comparison group. The duration of antibiotics in the two groups did not differ significantly. There were no adverse events associated with irrigation therapy in any group.

Conclusion. Irrigation therapy is a safe method of preventing acute respiratory infections. The addition of brown algae extract to the seawater solution can improve the effectiveness of irrigation therapy, reduce the duration of inflammation, promote restoration of the mucosa, and reduce the need for antibiotic therapy.

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