Protocol for a randomised, single-blind, two-arm, parallel-group controlled trial of the efficacy of rhinothermy delivered by nasal high flow therapy in the treatment of the common cold

Bird, Grace; Braithwaite, Irene; Harper, James; McKinstry, Steven; Koorevaar, Iris; Fingleton, James; Semprini, Alex; Dilcher, Meik; Jennings, Lance; Weatherall, Mark; Beasley, Richard

The common cold is the most frequent illness experienced by people worldwide. Many people will have experienced a cold in their lifetimesadults on average may suffer from 2-4 colds per year. Symptoms can last for up to a week and although most people get better by themselves with no treatment, it may have a significant impact on their lives. This impact includes time off of work, which in the US alone has been estimated to cost the economy $25 billion. Finding different ways of reducing the impact of the common cold, which is usually caused by a virus (there are many, the Human Rhinovirus being the most common), by inhaling steam has become a focus of research. It is thought that breathing in steam through the nose may kill the virus as well as reduce the symptoms and the number of days that people remain unwell. Some people will be familiar with steam therapy, like holding your face over a bowl of steaming hot water with a towel over your head.