The Common Cold: The Effect of Hot Humid Air on the Nasal Mucosa

Abstract

To the Editor. —It is surprising that both articles 1,2 and the accompanying Editorial 3 on the use of heated humidified air for early treatment of the common cold fail to mention the efficacy of hot chicken soup in relieving the symptoms of this malady. 4 Chicken soup mobilizes nasal mucus better than other hot liquids 5 and inhibits the growth of pneumococci in vitro. 6 These findings give scientific respectability to what mothers have always known—chicken soup can alleviate the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection.