title: Lessons learned from a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study with a iota-carrageenan nasal spray as medical device in children with acute symptoms of common cold.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Common cold is caused by a variety of respiratory viruses. The prevalence in children is high, and it potentially contributes to significant morbidity. Iota-carragenan, a polymer derived from red seaweed, has reduced viral load in nasal secretions and alleviated symptoms in adults with common cold.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have assessed the antiviral and therapeutic activity of a nasal spray containing iota-carrageenan in children with acute symptoms of common cold. A cohort of 153 children between 1-18 years (mean age 5 years), displaying acute symptoms of common cold were randomly assigned to treatment with a nasal spray containing iota-carrageenan (0.12%) as verum or 0.9% sodium chloride solution as placebo for seven days. Symptoms of common cold were recorded and the viral load of respiratory viruses in nasal secretions was determined at two consecutive visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the present study showed no significant difference between the iota carrageenan and the placebo group on the mean of TSS between study days 2-7. Secondary endpoints, such as reduced time to clearance of disease (7.6 vs 9.4 days; p = 0.038), reduction of viral load (p = 0.026), and lower incidence of secondary infections with other respiratory viruses (p = 0.046) indicated beneficial effects of iota-carrageenan in this population. The treatment was safe and well tolerated, with less side effects observed in the verum group compared to placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study iota-carrageenan did not alleviate symptoms in children with acute symptoms of common cold, but significantly reduced viral load in nasal secretions that may have important implications for future studies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN52519535, http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN52519535/
authors.affiliation: St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Tamas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fazekas
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eickhoff
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pruckner
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vollnhofer
authors.forename: Gustav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischmeister
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diakos
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verdianz
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zoubek
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gadner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lion
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000517:prevention & control; D003139:Common Cold / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry; D019562:Viral Load / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002351:Carrageenan