7/24/2019 Journal for communicable disease

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/journal-for-communicable-disease 1/1

Prevention of upper respiratory tract infections by gargling: a

randomized trial.

BACKGRO!":

Gargling to wash the throat is commonly performed in Japan, and people believe that such hygienicroutine, especially with gargle medicine, prevents upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) Itseffectiveness, however, has not been established by clinical trials

"#$%G!:

Randomi!ed controlled trial carried out in "##"$"##% winter season and analy!ed in "##% and "##&

PAR&%C%PA!&$:

'ealthy volunteers (%) aged * to + years

%!&#R'#!&%O!:

-articipants were randomly assigned to water gargling, povidone$iodine gargling, and usual care (control).ub/ects in the two gargling groups were re0uested to gargle with water or diluted povidone$iodine atleast three times a day -articipants were followed for +# days

(A%! O&CO(# (#A$R#$:

The primary outcome measure was first URTI incidence .everity of URTI symptoms among incidentcases was also evaluated 1oth outcomes were assessed with a self$administered symptom record

 2nalyses were performed on an intention$to$treat basis

R#$)&$:

 2 total of *%# participants contracted URTIs The incidence rate of first URTI was #"+ episodes3%#person$days among control sub/ects The rate decreased to #* episodes3%# person$days in the watergargling group, and #"& episodes3%# person$days in the povidone$iodine gargling group Respectiveincidence rate ratios against controls were #+& (45 confidence interval 67I89#&*$#44) and #4 (457I9#+#$*%%) 2 7o: regression (proportional ha!ard model) revealed the efficacy of water gargling(ha!ard ratio9#+#, 45 7I9#%4$#4) ;ven when a URTI occurred, water gargling tended to attenuatebronchial symptoms (p9##)

CO!C)$%O!$:

.imple water gargling was effective to prevent URTIs among healthy people This virtually cost$freemodality would appreciably benefit the general population