The common cold is ubiquitous in the family health care setting, yet its treatment is evasive. Antibiotics? Less than 0.1% of URIs have a bacterial etiology. Vitamin C? Zinc? Lots of fluids? Gargle with salt water? Chicken soup for dinner?

R.P. was a 14 year old young woman (one of many such patients) who came in with her mother complaining of a sore throat, headache, sneezing, and myalgia. And after a quick examination she was sent on her way with no prescription, just some commonly heard advice: rest, fluids, vitamins...

Chicken soup has been used as a remedy for the common cold (and probably many other ailments) for centuries. But does it really work? There are no double-blind, randomized controlled studies to prove its efficacy, and yet... This article briefly summarized what is known about the effects of chicken soup on the common cold (as well as describing the perfect recipe for the soup): the hot vapors loosen bronchial secretions, increase nasal mucous velocity, improve ciliary function, and inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis. This interesting property of chicken soup on neutrophil chemotaxis has been shown in vitro by Rennard et al.

What about the other therapies? Some doctors are strong proponents of one therapy, and others claim that it makes no difference. Unfortunately, studies have also fallen on both sides of the fence - some clearly show the therapy makes a difference, others show no difference at all. One small study of 50 volunteers examined the effect of zinc acetate lozenges taken every 2-3 hours while awake on the duration of symptoms (sore throat, nasal discharge, congestion, sneezing, cough, muscle ache, fever, headache) of the common cold. Their study conclusively showed that the zinc acetate halved the duration of the symptoms from 8.1 to 4.5 days.

So in conclusion, there is no final verdict. Although personally I strongly believe in these questionably proven treatments, I would be curious to see how strong is the placebo effect in treating the common cold.