Gargling with water is an effective and low-cost way to prevent upper respiratory tract infections among healthy individuals, according to a randomized controlled trial.
- Gargling with water can help prevent upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) among healthy people. - This is a virtually cost-free and simple method that could benefit the general population. - The study found that the incidence rate of first URTI was lower in the water gargling group compared to the control group. - Even when a URTI occurred, water gargling tended to attenuate bronchial symptoms.
This is from American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2005 at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379705002588.
Top Five Keywords: - Upper respiratory tract infections - Gargling - Prevention - Randomized controlled trial - Water gargling
Background
Gargling to wash the throat is commonly performed in Japan, and people believe that such hygienic routine, especially with gargle medicine, prevents upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Its effectiveness, however, has not been established by clinical trials.
Design
Randomized controlled trial carried out in 2002–2003 winter season and analyzed in 2003 and 2004.
Participants
Healthy volunteers (387) aged 18 to 65 years.
Intervention
Participants were randomly assigned to water gargling, povidone-iodine gargling, and usual care (control). Subjects in the two gargling groups were requested to gargle with water or diluted povidone-iodine at least three times a day. Participants were followed for 60 days.
Main Outcome Measures
The primary outcome measure was first URTI incidence. Severity of URTI symptoms among incident cases was also evaluated. Both outcomes were assessed with a self-administered symptom record. Analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis.
Results
A total of 130 participants contracted URTIs. The incidence rate of first URTI was 0.26 episodes/30 person-days among control subjects. The rate decreased to 0.17 episodes/30 person-days in the water gargling group, and 0.24 episodes/30 person-days in the povidone-iodine gargling group. Respective incidence rate ratios against controls were 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.41–0.99) and 0.89 (95% CI=0.60–1.33). A Cox regression (proportional hazard model) revealed the efficacy of water gargling (hazard ratio=0.60, 95% CI=0.39–0.95). Even when a URTI occurred, water gargling tended to attenuate bronchial symptoms (p=0.055).
Conclusions
Simple water gargling was effective to prevent URTIs among healthy people. This virtually cost-free modality would appreciably benefit the general population.