title: Effect of inhaling heated vapor on symptoms of the common cold.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the efficacy of steam inhalation in treating common cold symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in vitro study determined the temperature that inactivated rhinovirus: a temperature of 43 degrees C lasting at least 1 hour was needed. We then conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized in vivo study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The virology laboratory and the outpatient department of the Cleveland (Ohio) Clinic Foundation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight Cleveland Clinic employee volunteers with symptoms of the common cold at the time of enrollment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single 60-minute treatment was given to the volunteers. The steam treatment group (n = 32) received 40 L/min of heated saturated air that raised the intranasal temperature to 43 degrees C. The placebo group (n = 36) received 2 L/min of ambient air at 20 degrees C to 24 degrees C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjective symptom scores for nasal congestion, nasal drainage, and sneezing and objective measures of nasal resistance were studied during a 7-day follow-up observation period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in daily symptom scores between the groups (P = .59 to .83). The only statistically significant differences between the groups were lower nasal resistances at baseline in the steam group (P = .04) and percent improvement in nasal resistance favoring the placebo group on day 7 (P = .01). However, these differences were of questionable clinical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that steam inhalation treatment had no beneficial effect on the cold symptoms of our volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Forstall
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Macknin
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Yen-Lieberman
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Medendrop
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance; D003139:Common Cold / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012229:Rhinovirus; D013227:Steam; D013696:Temperature; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013227:Steam