A Pediatrics study this past week starts out stating that, “Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are the most common acute illness in the world.” Wowza, that seems like a show stopper right there. But it’s true, anyone who works with kids or has kids or knows kids (let’s be honest) also knows that winter brings snot to little noses. And lots of it. I really believe that snot and mucus are a part of being a kid in the wintertime.
Kids typically have 6-10 colds a year, mainly between October and May, so if your child is snot-free today this mid-November, consider yourself lucky. Kids get upper respiratory infections (“a cold”) one after another after another and its often difficult to know when one cold ends and a new one begins. The far majority of these colds are caused by viruses. And because we don’t have treatments to impair the virus or kill the viruses that cause colds, we recommend supporting the machine that does: the body. Support your child as they fight off infections. Immune systems are amazingly efficient. Feed these immune systems the proper fuel: rest, hydration/liquids, energy, and most important, time.
We see many children in clinic with colds when families come in concerned about fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, or possible ear infections. Fortunately we rarely have to use antibiotics or other medication interventions. And although it’s nice not to have to prescribe medications for well children with uncomplicated colds, I hate not having much in my tool box to help a family. After a terrible sleepless night of coughing, hacking, fever, and snottiness, families come in absolutely exhausted. Pediatricians really do get this and we do want to do “something.” But often our advice comes off as “The doctor did nothing.” I look at it this way, we ruled our bacterial infection, provided ideas for improving cough (humidifier in the room, honey before sleep for kids over 1 year of age, nasal suction [love NoseFrida], and upright positioning to let the snot drip the right way) and gave guidance about why or when to return. But I do want more tools in my toolbox. This study may help.
As I mentioned last week, sleep is a major commodity while raising children (duh). The study on Vicks VapoRub surprised me. Previously when parents asked me about VapoRub I would say something like, “There’s no data to say Vicks does any good and it may be dangerous to young children under age 2. Yet besides unlikely irritation to the skin in older kids, it’s safe to use I believe it gives the experience of easier breathing because kids can feel the air moving in your nostrils. So go ahead and use it on their chest at night if you feel it helps.” And although that sensation of easier breathing may really be the mechanism that vapor rub works, a new study found that when compared to using Vaseline or nothing at all, Vick’s stood tall. It helped children and their families SLEEP.
The Study (it’s free to the public so click on the hyperlink if you’d like to read it):
- 138 children between 2 and 11 years old enrolled in a 2 day study while they suffered from cold symptoms. These kids did not have asthma or other lung issues and weren’t using any other medications or interventions, not even honey.
- Parents were randomly placed in 4 different groups: one group that used no treatment and 3 treatment groups that used either placebo ointment, petrolatum (think Vaseline) on a child’s chest, or Vicks VaporRub (petrolatum with camphor [4.8%], menthol [2.6%],
and eucalyptus oil) on the chest. To ensure families in ointment groups didn’t know which ointment they were rubbing on the child’s chest, they had parents put a strip of the vapor rub under their own nostrils so they couldn’t smell if the ointment they applied was medicated or not. Hmmmmmmm…would you be able to comply with this? Would you sneak a sniff at another time? - Children (and parents) were assessed for cough, congestion, and difficulty sleeping (one of the biggest consequences of colds).
Findings:
- Most significant were results rated by parents: children treated with Vapor Rub were significantly more able to sleep than were children randomized to receive petrolatum or no treatment.
- Researchers wrote, “Combinations of aromatic oils in a petrolatum base have been used for generations, but this study demonstrates that this therapy is indeed effective.”
- As rated by their parents, children with URIs who were treated with Vapor Rub had more nighttime relief from cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty than did children treated with a placebo ointment, petrolatum, or with no treatment.
- It’s unclear why Vapor Rub helps children sleep. The researchers theorize that it is due to relief of other symptoms (cough/congestion).
- Twenty of the 44 parents in the Vapor Rub group reported one or more mild adverse event, such as skin irritation. No parents in the other two ointment groups reported side effects.
Although Vicks doesn’t work to cure the cold, it may help families of children over age 2, restore sleep during the night through cold (URI) season. Although I don’t think Vick’s will change much, this may help exhausted families in 2 ways: they will have a tool to intervene to help relieve symptoms in their school-age child and they may improve their sleep. I’m not certain I’m reaching for the Vicks any time soon, but this data does put the recommendation into perspective. When the snot starts flowing and when the nighttime cough is ongoing, consider getting Vapor Rub for your child’s chest. And keep us updated on how you think it fares.
NOTE: Most pediatricians (and I) don’t recommend Vicks or any Camphor-containing products for infants or children under age 2. You always want to avoid any oral ingestion of camphor-containing products (don’t eat or let a child eat the Vicks!). There are concerns about Camphor-containing products causing seizures and other serious concerns about exposures and ingestion of camphor in young children. Talk with your pediatrician. Of note, there is a product designed for babies (BabyRub) that is made without Camphor, but I don’t know of any data/evidence for its effectiveness with baby’s cough/congestion. So save your money or put it towards buying a humidifier.
Katie says
Ah, yes, cold and flu season. I am hoping this one is a bit easier on Will now that his adenoids are out. Much as we love visiting you, we wouldn’t mind a few less this year.
We haven’t had a chance to use “real” Vick’s yet. We have used the baby rub when he has had colds, but I never really saw a difference. Just throwing darts at the board to try and help him feel better. We’ll have to try the “real” stuff the next time he is sick.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Katie–no need to buy “Vicks” brand. It’s what they used in the study but I have no reason to believe the generics (with the same ingredients) are any different!!
Katie says
Oh, I meant “real” as in adult vs. the baby vicks.
molly says
i’m laughing because this is so timely. are you peeking into my brain?! i was getting ready to ask you about this when i saw your blog post on my reader. we’re ridden with the plague in our house right now, and i have in my hand a tub of baby vick’s. i’ve used it on my older two (with good results), but was hesitant to use on almost 9-month-old liam. one trick an elderly woman once told me was to put vick’s on the bottom of the feet and put socks on over it. have you heard this? i thought it was weird.
thanks for this post. it answered some questions i had about the stuff.
one question i have is regarding the vick’s vapo-steam. i know not to use it for the baby, but have you heard if this is effective vs. humidifier with just plain water? it smells really strong to me…maybe too strong. your thoughts?
we’ll see you next week! hopefully we’ll be arriving well.!
molly says
ps. vapo steam: https://www.vicks.com/products/vapo-family/vaposteam/
Diana says
I just this morning had a video chat with my husband in Italy trying to tell him he had to use this nose suction device (a different brand) on our 4-year-old daughter who is there with him, because she sounded stuffed up from the plane. I packed it in his bag, but he was afraid to use it, especially since I use it with a vacuum. I’ve found that the mouth suction just doesn’t work for the miles of snot, so I take out the filter and just hold the nose hose in an open vacuum nozzle. The full force of the vacuum is not sucking her nose! It is a very gentle suction because the two hoses are not attached–lots of air gap. So you just get ropes of snot and the girl doesn’t cough from post nasal drip for a good long while. I’ve also used it on myself, and I wonder if all the air circulation in the sinuses just makes the sinuses irritated and produce more mucus. I also use a salt water rinse in my nose in a Netti pot, and that keeps me from coughing for a few hours. But kids won’t go for Netti pots, so in Italy, they use mineral water called Acqua di Sirmione that is a spray mist pump and good for children and babies. It is just natural water with minerals that smell weird–like Roman hot springs or something.
liz says
our ped recommended putting the vicks on our daughter’s back. that way she wouldn’t touch it and get it in her eyes or mouth. Since being told that we haven’t had ocassion to use the vicks but curious to see if it will work as well. (daughter is 3)
Amy says
I’ll certainly ask our pediatrician, but since it’s relevant to this post: is Vick’s safe to use with asthmatic children?
Isabelle says
As kids, my mom always put a drop or two of eucalyptus oil in the radiator thingies (old time steam radiators had these things that hung between the accordion folds where you could put water to keep some humidity going) and sometimes a drop on our pillowcase. I remember the stink of it but it seemed to help, so I do it with our 5 year old now. The tablespoon of honey is so far the most successful approach to helping him, though. Anecdotal, for sure.
Chris says
Eucalyptus oil is highly toxic to children, be sure to read all the warnings before considering using this oil. Just type “eucalyptus oil warnings” into your search browser.
Erin says
Someone once told me that putting Vick’s on kids feet will help to ease coughing at night. As a mom of 3 boys, at least 1 of which is really prone to upper resp problems and coughing, I was willing to try anything that was safe and would provide relief. It really does seem to help, as crazy as it sounds. Maybe the feet part has nothing to do with it! I do use the Baby Vicks…don’t know why I chose that at the time, but I have stuck with it. I put it on their feet and some residual on their chests. That coupled with the humidifier, seems to really make a difference.
Jon says
Yes Erin,
This definitely does work. We usual to rub and then socks over. I heard about it from my sister. Her daughter has cystic fibrosis and their pediatrician turned them on it to help her breathing in general during the times when it’s especially hard.
Also, we’ve been using the baby rub with all of our kids. (5, 3.5, 2 and 3 mos.) We never have used “real” vicks, just the babyrub. It works though.
Colleen says
What is it about the vapor rub that would keep you personally from using it on your children?
Molly says
We too are fighting the colds at our house this year. I’ve used Vicks on my 3 year old’s feet and found that it has helped with cough. His favorite remedy is honey though! I’ve also used Pediacare Gentle Vapors as we also have a 5 month old and it seems to help. Thanks for the post.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Colleen,
I don’t distrust the data for vapor rub per se, just don’t know that I would use it. I took the picture in the drug store (of the Vicks) and still didn’t buy it. I can’t tell you exactly why. Even after I had written the post and read and re-read the study. This study certainly has changed my perspective, but with cold viruses, I don’t like intervening…
I must say, I still really believe in allowing my children’s immune systems to fight off these infections. Allowing them rest, time away from school, meals at home, and humidification in their rooms. And honey…
I have used honey. Here’s the study that convinced me:
https://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/161/12/1140
I should probably should write a post about that, too 🙂
Erin says
For honey to work, does it need to be a straight shot or can it be slightly diluted (ie mixed with lemon juice?) For some reason, I cannot get my kids to take a spoonful of honey. Crazy, I know!
Grandma says
Hey Wendy, you/we got through many a night with good ol’ Vicks on your chest overlayed with one of your dad’s T-shirts (to keep your PJs from getting oil).
I remember part of my mother treating me with Vicks was feeling the warmth of my dad’s old soft shirt.
Maybe its more about the care and touch before sleep than the Vicks itself…
Nah, think both in combination will help O sleep better.
Just the smell of Vicks automatically makes me breath better. A staple in my medicine cabinet.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Well there you go…my mom comes in tells me the intervention helped ME when I was a child and nudges me to use it with O when he’s got a cold.
Okay…
I’ll buy vapor rub next time I’m at the store. And use it if/when we’ve got another round of cough/congestion around here with the T-shirt trick…but then we might have to devise a study examining the effect of Dad’s t-shirt versus Dad’s t-shirt with Vapor rub to see which is the intervention that really works!
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Erin,
In the study I referenced above, honey was given straight. If you can’t get it down without diluting it, I certainly think it’s fine to do so. May be better than not trying it at all. Just harder to say that science stands behind it.
Nonetheless, I think I’d still try and see if it helps soothe your child and allow you to have a better sleep!
Isabelle says
Toxicity warnings for eucalyptus oil are skin contact and oral/ingestion, I believe. It has been safe as a drop or two added to steam in the room and as a drop on the pillow or mattress area up near the head. Like many things from cleaning products to medicines, it is safe when used safely. Even saline nose sprays/misters have their down side though it’s just salted water… if you misspray the pressure can hurt the ears when congested so we use the drops for that.
That said, the E. oil really stinks just like Vapo Rub does so it’s not the first line of attack for us for comforting illing little monkeys, unlike comfy father’s tshirts and a tablespoon of honey and a long snuggle.
Maybe it’s psychological, and when they smell the strong stuff they stop fighting that they are sick and relax and rest and that is indirectly what helps.
About the Vapo Rub on the feet, I am intrigued… maybe that is why Chinese medicine holds the feet as so important to one’s health… I don’t know very much about it but have heard of \cold feet\ and wonder if the heating feeling helps that? Interesting.
Viki says
I’ve never used Vicks but I have made balms out of camphor and such, mostly when I did martial arts. It acts as an anesthetic and gets circulation going so you get that cooling effect. My hypothesis is that when inhaled as a vapor it might soothe irritation. It’s not just the presence of snot – your whole face aches when you have a cold.
Honey is naturally antiseptic as is garlic. I give it to my kids when they get sniffles. Often garlic oil ear drops to prevent ear infection with bad sinus infection.
Michelle says
Our baby got a cold when he was just 2 weeks old. After using a humidifier, nose suctioning, and him sleeping in the car seat (as to allow drainage), the BabyRub finally allowed him to sleep better. We ended up using both a store brand and the Vicks, but we prefer how the Vicks felt (though both worked equally as well).
Julia says
I noticed a significant difference when I used Vicks vaporub on my daughter’s chest (this was last year when she was 5 years old) in giving her enough relief to sleep. I had given her children’s cough medicine and had a humidifier on and she was still coughing from post nasal drip but stopped after applying the Vicks. I remembered that my mother used to either rub Vicks on my chest or put menthol in the humidifier and it really helped. I’m guessing that menthol causes some sort of vaso-dialation reaction which helps things to drain better? That’s my non-medical professional guess.
breathe right menthol vapor strips says
I love the VapoRub! It worked for me when I was little and it works for my kids now!
Erin says
I have a 2 and 5 year old, and I rub Vicks on their feet frequently to help them sleep. (not a lot of massaging though.) Even my husband and myself rub our feet down with it at times. We live in Florida and are constantly battling allergies. Everytime I have used it, my girls have slept ALL night. We call it “medicine lotion”. Cheers!
M Sliger says
Thank you for this! I’ve read so many conflicting things
about Vicks, and you cleared it up for me. I appreciate your
reasoned tone. 🙂
Heather says
Been up most of the night listening to my 5 year old son cough. Finally hunted down the vicks, slathered it alll over his chest and back then plugged in the vicks vapor plug and almost immediately the coughing slowed! Thank goodness im going to sleep now.
sheila says
My mom used vicks vapor since i was a kid. Every time I get sick ( cough/ colds) she made me take my medicines then rubs vicks in my chest and my back and my feet. After applying she will gently massage my head, arms, legs, and back to help me sleep. It also feels comfy while having a massage. It feels like cool and comfy and massage is more like a lullaby song. The smell of vicks makes it easy to breath. I been using the same method when i left my parents house to attend highschool and college. Now, I also have a 7 yrs old kid and i used it too the way my mom did to me. It is not harmful for a 2yrs old just us a lighter dosage of the vick or baby rub if u want. But regular vicks I dont have problems with it. Skin irritation only happens if u apply to much. A pea size amount of vicks is enough to apply. More than that is really gonna be hot n irritating for a kid to handle. And yes, honey is the best. ginger juice is also good for cough and colds with honey and lemon (optional).
FYI, drinking herbal tea or lipton tea is not for diet to get skinny or lose fats. Herbal tea or not, it only helps in digesting food faster and helps people who have a slow metabolism. Using it in a wrong can endanger your health. And its not an everyday drink as coffee. Take tea once or twice a week but not everyday.
ziddibilli says
thanks for all the information about vicks… i had totally forgotten about vicks on the feet. I’m glad i found this blog before the boys got better.. having said that.. I would like to differ with sheila about tea being an every day drink.. nothing personal but from where i come from and all the countries around us, people drink tea multiple times a day and have been doing it for eons. to them its the same as coffee..
kim says
Honey contains botulism and shouldn’t be given to infants. Digestive system need to mature to be able to tolerate the small amount. There is a recommended age for honey.
Read an article on parenting about Vicks. Tricks the nose cold receptors and actual allows kids to breath easier. Can inflame mucus lining though. Not recommended under 2 and never under nose in kids. II used it on my daughter forever. As adults still use vicks on chest at night with cold.
A Smith says
My mom not only rubbed it on my chest at night, but also put it in really hot steaming water, then I put my head over it and inhaled… I would be so stuffy that it took a few breaths before i could actually breathe through my nose, but it worked! (We didn’t have a humidifier) 🙂 trust me, regular steam did NOT work… at all. I got sick at least twice a year, every year, without fail.
When I had my daughter, she was a few weeks old and she got a cold. My best friend’s mom suggested Vicks on her feet with socks. After 3 nights without much sleep she was finally able to sleep all night without coughing. She is 12 now and anytime she gets sick with a bad cough, SHE grabs the Vicks and a pair of socks before bed. : D
I use it all the time for everything from chapped lips to mosquito bites. My mom use to put camphophinique (sp?) on my mosquito bites, but Vicks has camphor, is MUCH cheaper, and will stay on longer!
Martin smith says
This is a really bad study.
The placebo control just can’t work for the patient, and probably doesn’t work for the parent.
Secondly we know for a fact that menthol and camphor does not relieve congestion or improve nasal airflow. The fact the authors state this as a possible effect is alarming to say the least. The numerous studies on how menthol and camphor rubs work are not new. How could the authors of this study be unaware of what Vicks actually does?
Vicks does not clear the nose or relieve congestion. It stimulates temperature sensing nerves and gives the illusion of more air flow, but nothing is actually happening. Your brain thinks there is more airflow, but there isn’t, and associates the sensation of more airflow with the smell.
The issue is that Vicks is snake oil. It is the classic example of why anecdote is such a bad form of evidence. People everywhere believe it works because it tricks your brain into thinking it is decongestant, but it actually isn’t. So everyone says it works, and here we have a really poorly performed study also saying it might work – and worse theorising a known untruth as the reason it may work
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
Thanks for your comments, Martin.
I agree with much of what you wrote — that Vick’s clearly ISN’T a decongestant and that it almost provides an illusion. This study to me was more about sleep and the impact of this intervention (low-risk) on child and family sleep. Who knows what confounds that — or if parents sleep better because they intervened. I wrote about the study and detailed the findings, I didn’t publish it. But I agree that I elevate it by bringing it to the public. I did my best to share my 2010 take on URI’s,the responses families have to this intervention and the study findings. As you see I even put the researchers notes about the effectiveness in quotes
Researchers wrote, “Combinations of aromatic oils in a petrolatum base have been used for generations, but this study demonstrates that this therapy is indeed effective.”
I suggest you author a letter to editors at Pediatrics as well. And perhaps you’ve provided me a good reason to revisit the topic on the blog. Certainly not trying to push “snake oil.”
Martin smith says
And because you have published this poor study we have a whole bunch of people saying “it works” (it doesn’t) and worse going full woo with the whole out it on your feet malarkey.
You are perpetuating an urban myth
Cindy Richards says
Martin.what you wrote is ridiculous and offensive. “….you have published this poor study we have a whole bunch people saying “it works” I’d doesn’t….” Without a doubt you must be a Repuplican. Here’s the thing, Martin, if a whole bunch of people swear it works, even if you say it doesn’t, it apparently works. Try to grasp that concept.
Let’s use a number. Say 2000 peeps write in and say it works, and one writes in to say, “I haven’t tried it because it doesn’t work.” Well, now, that one person sounds a bit idiotic accusing others who have tried it if malarkey.
I have tried it. Gets rid of bad coughs within 5 minutes and I sleep well. Each person I have told has reported it ended their coughing. Therefore, Sir, it is successful and, indeed, DOES WORK.
arlene keeling says
My sons are grown men now, but when they were little boys with a cold or congested, and before they went to bed, I would rub their throats with Vicks, then wrap a sock around their throat with a safety pin. I would then rub it on their chests before they put their pajama tops on. Another thing I did was to take a stack of books and a couple of pillows and we would go into the bathroom, close the door, and turn the shower to the hottest it would go…we would then sit on the floor for about 45 minutes reading books….the steam would loosen everything in their chest and they would have a good night’s sleep.
Scientist Dad says
I have used Vicks on myself and also on my kids when they have a cold. I apply it to the chest and neck. My experience has been that it helps and the cold clears up in a day or two. On the few instances when I have not used Vicks, the cold usually lasts longer.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
There is no immune support — or data to suggest it– from Vaporub (making a cold go away faster) or from products like this but it’s nice to know that you feel it helps your child recover faster.
Sabaah says
Dont use the vicks for adults on babies- PLEASE!
My neighbor once told me to use vicks and warm oil togethher ( not to warm to burn the skin , and there is no specific quantity of either, just a bit of vicks and a bit of oil – try olive oil) rub it on the chest , neck and back. I think its also the smell of vicks that keeps the passageways a little open