Not to be sniffed at
Treatments for nasal symptoms of the common cold:
Evidence for efficacy and associated risks
Adults
Children
Small or possible beneficial effect
No or unclear effect
Likely to be harmful
No evidence of effect
Key to symbols
Congestion
Rhinorrhoea
Sneezing
Risk of harm
Possible or small effect
Unclear evidence of effect
No or possibly no effect
No evidence available
Increased risk
Unclear evidence of risk
No or possibly no increased risk
No evidence available
Key to symbols
Evidence of effect:
Evidence of harms:
Antihistamine + analgesic
+ decongestant
Combination therapy
Congestion
EVIDENCE BASE
Possible effect
on severity
595 people
3 RCTs
Low quality
Possible effect
on severity
EVIDENCE BASE
595 people
3 RCTs
Low quality
Rhinorrhoea
Possible effect
on severity
595 people
3 RCTs
Low quality
EVIDENCE BASE
Possible effect
on severity
595 people
3 RCTs
Low quality
EVIDENCE BASE
Sneezing
Small effect
on severity
70 people
1 RCT
Moderate quality
EVIDENCE BASE
Small effect
on severity
70 people
1 RCT
Moderate quality
EVIDENCE BASE
EVIDENCE BASE
Unclear risk
595 people
3 RCTs
No RCTs available
Low quality
Adverse events
Reported adverse events:
Data source
Cochrane review
Vohra S, Johnston BC, Laycock KL, et al. Safety and tolerability of
North American ginseng extract in the treatment of pediatric upper
respiratory tract infection: a phase II randomized, controlled trial of
2 dosing schedules. Pediatrics. 2008;122(2):e402-10.
10.1002/14651858.
CD004976.pub3
DOI link