William Atkins
Wednesday, 14 January 2009 20:31
Science -
Health
Page 3 of 4
The researchers were already experimenting with ferrets because their airway and cell lining of the airway are similar to that of human infants.
They decided to apply 200 milligrams of Vicks VapoRub under the noses of 15 healthy ferrets and others with tracheal inflammations.
They also applied Vicks VapoRub to cultured ferret tracheal cells.
The ferrets with Vicks VapoRub had mucus secretions increase by 14%, while the control ferrets (without Vicks VapoRub) had mucus secretions increase by only 8%.
In the cultured ferret tracheal cells, the mucus secretions increased by 59%.
They concluded, within the abstract of their paper, that their result is
“similar to the acute inflammatory stimulation observed with exposure to irritants, and may lead to mucus obstruction of small airways and increased nasal resistance.”
The Los Angeles Times article stated,
“Because the airways of infants are much narrower than those of adults, "any increase in mucus or inflammation can narrow them more severely," Rubin said.”
Since the female infant first identified the problem to the researchers, three other children, under the age of two years, have been brought to the emergency room after being dabbed with Vicks VapoRub.
All four recovered after the doctors told the parents to stop applying Vicks VapoRub on their young children.
Page four provides some common sense advice from a doctor not associated with the Wake Forest study.
