homehome Home chatchat Notifications


More than half of parents try non-scientific methods to stave off the common cold

Researchers advise parents to employ strategies that are evidence-based -- otherwise, their well-intended measures might not amount to all that much.

Mihai Andrei
January 24, 2019 @ 6:52 pm

share Share

Naturally, parents go to great lengths to make ensure the health of their children — but their efforts are sometimes misguided, researchers found.

Many parents still believe “folk remedies” or use vitamins or supplements for cold prevention that are not scientifically supported. Image credits: C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at the University of Michigan.

Does Vitamin C prevent you from catching a cold? What about going out with a wet hair, will that make you sick? Science says ‘No’ to both those questions, but most parents still believe it. In a new study, researchers from Mott Children’s Hospital surveyed parents to see what their prevention methods against the common cold are.

The good news is that 99% of parents believe cold prevention involves strong personal hygiene — which has indeed been proven by science. However, many parents still believe that “folk methods” can keep their children healthy. These methods include spending more time indoors, avoiding going outside with wet hair, and taking vitamins — none of which have been shown to help prevent colds.

“The positive news is that the majority of parents do follow evidence-based recommendations to avoid catching or spreading the common cold and other illnesses,” says Gary Freed, M.D., M.P.H., co-director of the poll and a pediatrician at Mott.

“However, many parents are also using supplements and vitamins not proven to be effective in preventing colds and that are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These are products that may be heavily advertised and commonly used but none have been independently shown to have any definitive effect on cold prevention.”

The common cold is an infectious disease caused by viruses spreading from person to person. Most commonly, this happens when mucus droplets are spread around, either through direct contact or via the air, through sneezing or coughing.

The folklore strategies emerged before we really understood all these things. There’s no evidence that Vitamin C or other supplements help boost the immune system and protect against the common cold — but just because this is the case doesn’t mean that producers can’t advertise these benefits. Essentially, the claimed benefits of these supplements don’t need to be proven in order to be advertised, but most parents aren’t aware of this and are swayed by producers’ messages. Even so, there’s a lot of good news in this study.

For instance,  87% of parents keep their children away from sick peers, which limits the exposure, while 64% of parents ask relatives who have colds not to hug or kiss their child. Around 60% of parents would skip a playdate or activity if other children there are ill, while 31% of parents avoid playgrounds altogether during the cold season.

While potentially excessive, all these methods work to reduce the risk of contracting a cold.

Researchers advise parents to employ strategies that are evidence-based — otherwise, their well-intended measures might not amount to all that much.

share Share

Superbugs are the latest crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa

Researchers found an alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant infections among children.

Drug Regenerates Retina and Restores Vision in Blind Mice

A protein hidden in our eyes may be the reason we can't repair lost vison.

This Chewing Gum Can Destroy 95 Percent of Flu and Herpes Viruses

Viruses had enough fun in our mouths, it's time to wipe them out.

Here's why you should stop working out before bedtime

Even hours before bedtime, workouts can be a problem.

Researchers analyzed 10,000 studies and found cannabis could actually fight cancer

Scientists used AI to scan a huge number of papers and found cannabis gets a vote of confidence from science.

She Can Smell Parkinson’s—Now Scientists Are Turning It Into a Skin Swab

A super-smeller's gift could lead to an early, non-invasive Parkinson's test.

Experts Say Autism Surge Is Driven By Better Screening. RFK Jr Desperately Wants It To Be Something Else

RFK Jr just declared war on decades of autism research—armed with no data, a debunked myth, and a deadline.

Could This Saliva Test Catch Deadly Prostate Cancer Early?

Researchers say new genetic test detects aggressive cancers that PSA and MRIs often miss

This Futuristic Laser Blood Test May Be the Key to Beating Cancer Early

Researchers use light pulses and AI to detect lung cancer with 81% accuracy

This Tree Survives Lightning Strikes—and Uses Them to Kill Its Rivals

This rainforest giant thrives when its rivals burn