Advertisement
For years, Vicks Vaporub has been a household item in every home. Almost everyone of us has used this ointment every now and then especially in battling nasal congestion due to colds and flu.
But a case report in 2009 proved that while Vicks Vaporub soothes colds and flu symptoms, "there's little to NO data suggesting that the product actually helps clear airways." It added that using this remedy may actually be harmful to some individuals, just like what happened to an 18-month-old infant.
According to ABC News, the baby was recovering well from her common upper respiratory infection until about a couple of hours before she was rushed to the emergency room when she suddenly developed serious breathing problems.
When doctors asked the attending grandparents about what could have caused the child's condition, they said they had rubbed Vicks Vaporub under the infant's nose earlier that day.
"Sure enough, we demonstrated that the Vicks produced increased mucous in the patient's airway, which was already inflamed and narrowed because of her respiratory infection," said Dr. Bruce Rubin, vice chair of pediatric pulmonology at Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
He further explained that while everyone may feel relief when using Vicks themselves, sick kids, on the other hand, may respond differently to the ointment.
Researchers even tested Vicks on rodent's to check if it was responsible for the patient's respiratory condition. Results showed that exposure to VapoRub caused inflammation to the ferret's airway due to increased production of the mucous.
Procter & Gamble spokesperson, David Bernens, released a statement claiming, "For generations Vicks has been shown to be safe and effective if used in accordance with the instructions on the bottle. Animal findings have unknown clinical relevance, and the safety of Vicks VapoRub has been shown in multiple clinical trials in over 1,000 children who were studied, ranging in age from one month old to 12 years old."
However, to most parents who have been familiar to using Vicks, for them it is a very harmless remedy.
Dr. Ira Rubin, pediatrician at Naperville Pediatric Associates in Naperville, III, noted that the best advice is to avoid cough and cold medications, such as Vicks, in young children.
 |
| photo via The Telegraph (for visual purposes only;not the actual patient) |
But a case report in 2009 proved that while Vicks Vaporub soothes colds and flu symptoms, "there's little to NO data suggesting that the product actually helps clear airways." It added that using this remedy may actually be harmful to some individuals, just like what happened to an 18-month-old infant.
According to ABC News, the baby was recovering well from her common upper respiratory infection until about a couple of hours before she was rushed to the emergency room when she suddenly developed serious breathing problems.
When doctors asked the attending grandparents about what could have caused the child's condition, they said they had rubbed Vicks Vaporub under the infant's nose earlier that day.
"Sure enough, we demonstrated that the Vicks produced increased mucous in the patient's airway, which was already inflamed and narrowed because of her respiratory infection," said Dr. Bruce Rubin, vice chair of pediatric pulmonology at Wake Forest University Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
He further explained that while everyone may feel relief when using Vicks themselves, sick kids, on the other hand, may respond differently to the ointment.
Researchers even tested Vicks on rodent's to check if it was responsible for the patient's respiratory condition. Results showed that exposure to VapoRub caused inflammation to the ferret's airway due to increased production of the mucous.
Procter & Gamble spokesperson, David Bernens, released a statement claiming, "For generations Vicks has been shown to be safe and effective if used in accordance with the instructions on the bottle. Animal findings have unknown clinical relevance, and the safety of Vicks VapoRub has been shown in multiple clinical trials in over 1,000 children who were studied, ranging in age from one month old to 12 years old."
Yet MOST DOCTORS AGREE ON NOT GIVING THIS RUB TO PATIENTS.
According to the associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia, Dr. Diane Pappas, Vicks Vaporub "SHOULD NOT BE USED IN CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF TWO."However, to most parents who have been familiar to using Vicks, for them it is a very harmless remedy.
Dr. Ira Rubin, pediatrician at Naperville Pediatric Associates in Naperville, III, noted that the best advice is to avoid cough and cold medications, such as Vicks, in young children.