Children Down with Cold: What Works?

Cold remedies are almost as common as the common cold, and many are nearly as ancient. The use of chicken soup as a congestion cure dates back centuries. But is longevity any guarantee that a cold remedy works — and what actually helps when it's your child who is sick? Here's a look at what's known.

What has evidence behind it:

• Honey (children older than 1 year). Studies have found honey can ease nighttime coughing and may work as well as common cough suppressants in children. Never give honey to infants under 12 months — it carries a risk of infant botulism.
• Saline nasal drops or spray. A few drops in each nostril loosen dried mucus so it can be gently suctioned out — genuinely useful for babies too young to blow their noses.
• Fluids and rest. Water, warm broth, and soup keep mucus thin and the child hydrated. Chicken soup has actually been studied: one laboratory study found it slowed the migration of certain white blood cells in a way consistent with an anti-inflammatory effect. Grandmother may have been onto something.
• Cool-mist humidifier. Moist air can ease congestion and a scratchy throat. Clean it regularly — a dirty humidifier breeds mold.

What to skip or treat with caution:

• Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines. Since 2008, regulators and pediatricians have advised against OTC cold and cough products for young children — the FDA's advisory covered children under 2, and manufacturers extended labeling to say "do not use" under age 4. For small kids, the risks outweigh any unproven benefit.
• Antibiotics. Colds are viral; antibiotics do nothing for them and contribute to resistance.
• Echinacea and zinc. The evidence is mixed at best — not worth arguing about while your child is miserable.

The common cold, in a healthy child, runs its course in about a week to ten days. If a fever persists beyond a few days, breathing is labored, or the child is unusually lethargic, see a pediatrician — that's beyond remedy territory. For everything else, honey, saline, fluids, and patience do more than the pharmacy aisle.