20 Jan 2023 • Published on 17th of January, 2023 A simple nasal spray significantly reduced snoring and breathing difficulties in children and halved the number needing to have their tonsils removed, according to a new study. The research, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and published in JAMA Pediatrics, found a saline (salt water) nasal spray was just as effective as an anti-inflammatory steroid nasal spray at easing sleep disordered breathing in children after six weeks of treatment. The randomized-controlled ""MIST"" trial of the sprays involved 276 children, aged 3-12 years, and was carried out at The Royal Children's Hospital and Monash Children's Hospital. The findings stated both nasal sprays cleared symptoms while asleep in about 40% of cases and those assessed by a surgeon as needing their tonsils and/or adenoids removed was reduced by half. Snoring and breathing difficulties during sleep affect about 12% of children and can cause significant long-term issues impacting cognitive function, behaviour and cardiovascular health. Nasal sprays work by cleaning the nose and/or reducing inflammation not just in the nose but all the way down the back of the throat to the adenoids and tonsillar tissue to alleviate the symptoms. Source: Science Daily| Read full story