My Mother Was Right About VapoRub!

Many of us can recall the use of Vicks VapoRub during childhood. In a manufacturer-sponsored study, 138 children (age range, 2–11 years) seen at a single pediatric center in Pennsylvania for colds characterized by cough, rhinorrhea, and congestion for at least 1 week were randomized to receive vapor rub, petrolatum, or no treatment for 1 night. In an attempt at blinding, parents in the vapor rub and petrolatum groups placed Vicks VapoRub under their own noses prior to applying treatment to their child's upper chest and neck area before sleep. Parents completed a 6-item symptom survey at enrollment to assess symptoms on the night before treatment and the morning after.

Symptoms improved in all groups on the night after treatment. However, chi…