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The effect of hydrotherapy on the incidence of common cold episodes in children: a randomised clinical trial

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Abstract.

Few interventions have proved to be effective in the prevention and treatment of common colds. Anecdotal reports suggest the possible beneficial effect of hydrotherapy (stimulation of the body surface with warm and cold water). This study's objective was to evaluate the clinical effect of hydrotherapy on common colds in children. Children aged 3–7 years with six or more common cold episodes during the preceding 12 months were randomised to receive either daily inhalation of normal saline in the control group or daily inhalation plus daily hydrotherapy in the experimental group for 12 months. The main outcome measurements were incidence, duration and severity of common cold episodes as reported by the children's parents in a daily symptom diary. Groups did not differ at baseline with regard to age, gender, or number of cold episodes in the year before the study. Diaries were available from 81 patients in the control group and 65 patients in the experimental group. In the study period, there were no significant differences in the incidence of colds (control vs. experimental group, mean ± SD, 4.8±3.5 vs. 4.1±3.3 episodes) or the average duration of episodes (7.7±3.5 vs. 7.6±3.8 days). Conclusion: This study does not demonstrate any beneficial effect of hydrotherapy on preschool children with frequent common colds.

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Acknowledgements.

The authors are indebted to the participating families whose enthusiasm made this study possible. J. Menk (Department of Naturopathy, Benjamin Franklin University Hospital, Berlin) and G. Beckmann (Kneipp Association, Berlin) instructed families in hydrotherapy. E. Wils and C. Eichhorn-Marklien (Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité, Humboldt University of Berlin) screened the children for psychopathology and investigated the parents' health locus of control. R. Kölbach and S. Bisson (Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Benjamin Franklin University Hospital, Berlin) assisted in the statistical analysis. Grant support: Federal Ministry of Research and Technology, Bonn, Germany (01KT94/05).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Charité—Children's Hospital, , Humboldt University, Campus Virchow, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany

    Christoph Grüber & Ulrich Wahn

  2. Advisory Board to the Concerted Action in Health Care, Federal Ministry of Health, Am Probsthof 78a, 53121, Bonn, Germany

    Annette Riesberg

  3. Institute for Medical Biometry and Informatics, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Ulrich Mansmann

  4. Department of General Practice, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD , Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Paul Knipschild

  5. Department of Naturopathy, Benjamin Franklin University Hospital, Free University, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany

    Malte Bühring

Authors
  1. Christoph Grüber
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  2. Annette Riesberg
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  3. Ulrich Mansmann
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  4. Paul Knipschild
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  5. Ulrich Wahn
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  6. Malte Bühring
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Correspondence to Christoph Grüber.

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Grüber, C., Riesberg, A., Mansmann, U. et al. The effect of hydrotherapy on the incidence of common cold episodes in children: a randomised clinical trial. Eur J Pediatr 162, 168–176 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-002-1138-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-002-1138-y

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