Your kid will get sick with a cough from time to time. And sometimes the cough can make them feel miserable. As a parent, you'll want to try all the remedies you can to ease that pesky cough. One that has long made its way into homes is Vicks VapoRub. But does it actually work? And what about the popular method rubbing Vicks VapoRub on your child's feet to cure a cough?
According to medical experts, the latter is not likely to be effective. Here's why and what else you need to know about using Vicks VapoRub for a cough.
9 Ways to Treat Your Child's Cough Naturally
WhatIsVicksVapoRub?
Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment that can be found over-the-counter. Its three active ingredients are camphor oil, menthol oil, and eucalyptus oil. It's meant to be used as a cough suppressant or to treat minor aches and pains when applied on muscles and joints.
How Vicks VapoRub Works
How does Vicks VapoRub work when someone has a cold? "The scent of menthol in Vicks VapoRub triggers cold receptors in your nose and upper airway, where you sense temperature and smell," explains Satya D. Narisety, MD, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Rutgers University. "It doesn't actually open up airways or break up mucous, but the menthol does trick your brain into thinking your airways are opening up and you're not so congested."
It's meant to be rubbed on the chest or neck so that you are able to smell the oils, and research shows it may be helpful for children. According to a study published in Pediatrics, applying VapoRub to the chest of children ages 2 to 11 offered symptomatic relief of their nocturnal cough and congestion and, ultimately, led to a better night's sleep. Other research has found that menthol helped with carpal tunnel syndromesymptoms showing it may be helpful in easing chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain.
The balm may also provide some relief from coughs brought on by a viral infection, Dr. Narisety points out. "With a viral infection, the body will fight it off on its own; it will do what it's going to do," she says. "In that case, there's nothing wrong with putting something on that will make your child feel better. The VapoRub eases symptoms, like Tylenol does to reduce fever."
Safety Tip
Due to lack of clear clinical benefit, significant rates of irritation, and risks associated with camphor ingestion, many pediatricians do not recommend the use of Vicks VapoRub in children with cold symptoms.
VicksVapoRubon Feet Danger: Is There One?
There are anecdotal stories of curing a cough by rubbing Vicks VapoRub on the chest and on the bottom of your child's feet, covering them with a warm towel for 30 seconds, and repeating a few times. Though it sounds odd, some parents swear that come morning, the nagging cough is a distant memory. But is this magic balm really all that stands between your kid and a clean bill of health?
Not necessarily, say the experts. The key is making sure the menthol vapors of VapoRub can be inhaled, says Preeti Parikh, MD, a board-certified pediatrician in private practice in New York City, assistant clinical professor in the pediatrics department at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and an American Academy of Pediatrics fellow and spokesperson.
When slathering VapoRub on the soles of the feet and wrapping them in a warm towel, it's unlikely the vapors will travel enough to be inhaled. Instead, for maximum effectiveness, experts recommend massaging it onto your child's chest, where they can smell the menthol from a safe distance.
But, there may be some other benefits to rubbing VapoRub on the feet—research shows it can treat pesky nail fungus. Although, you'd still want to speak with a health care provider before using the product as a fungal cure.
Vicks VapoRub Risks
Vicks VapoRub is generally safe, but parents should be vigilant when using it for several reasons:
- It’s not meant for children under 2 years old.
- Camphor is dangerous when ingested. It can causes seizures and other side effects, so always keep it away from your child's face, including directly under the nostrils.
- You shouldn’t apply Vicks VapoRub on broken skin or open wounds.
- It can also cause a skin irritation. It's possible for the skin irritation to be worse than the symptoms targeted.
When To Seek Medical Help for a Cough
VapoRub will only get a coughing kid so far. A cough is a symptom of a larger issue, so true relief will come once your child's health care provider figures out the underlying problem and treats it accordingly, says Dr. Narisety. Seasonal allergies, inflammation, viral infections, or bacterial infections are just some of the possible culprits.
"A cough is not always a bad thing and does not always need to be treated," Dr. Parikh says. "Many coughs after illnesses can linger up to four weeks."
But a call to your child's health care provider is in order if:
- The cough lasts longer than a few days with fever or a wet, productive cough
- Your child has difficulty breathing
- The cough is interfering with sleep, activities, or swallowing, or it's associated with any other symptom (Dehydration and vomiting are red-flag symptoms when present with a cough.)
- Your child is under 3 months of age
