Steam Inhalation in Acute Respiratory Tract Infection!

Steam Inhalation in Acute Respiratory Tract Infection!

(Dr. Guru Prasad Mohanta, Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002, Tamil Nadu, E. mail: gpmohanta@hotmail.com)

Acute Respiratory Tract infections are common conditions often treated at primary care levels. The common symptoms are: unwell feeling, sleep disturbances, fever, interference with normal activities, sore throat, cough, short of breath, facial or sinus pain, earache, and running or blocked nose.  In addition to advice of taking common analgesics and antipyretics like paracetamol, the steam inhalation too commonly advised. The use of antibiotics is always controversial as some times these infections are caused by viruses.

Some of the symptoms are attributed to congestion arising from the swelling of the membranes and thickened mucous in the nose. The steam inhalation is believed to help the patient by lightening the respiratory tract secretions and relieving the symptoms of respiratory distress.  Breathing in steam from a bowl or jug is steam inhalation. The steam inhalation is commonly practiced by holding head under a towel over a bowl of very hot water. It is the inhalation of humidified air. There are no enough studies conducted to test the efficacy of steam inhalation in providing relief in acute respiratory tract infection. Even there is no consistent benefit in the treatment of common cold. Never the less, this steam inhalation is common and inexpensive therapy.

There have been conflicting reports on the usefulness of steam inhalation in acute respiratory tract infections. While some reports confirmed the symptomatic relief, the others showed no objective improvement in outcome measures such as viral shedding or viral titres in nasal washings. The common technique of steam inhalation is always associated with injury like scalding or steam burn. This risk of injury is much higher in young children as they do not understand the safety aspects often burning their faces. Patients or parents need to be advised on the risk involved and take precautions to avoid injury. It is often said “Sit in the bath room with a hot shower running”, a safe mode of steam inhalation therapy.