(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study shows Vicks VapoRub, a popular cold and cough treatment, may create respiratory problems in infants and small children.

Variations of Vick's VapoRub have been around for more than 100 years. The menthol compound is widely used to relieve cold symptoms and congestion. Yet, according to Bruce K. Rubin, M.D., lead author of the study and a professor in the department of pediatrics at Brenner Children's Hospital, part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., there is not a lot of data to show the ointment offers any clinical benefit.

VapoRub currently comes with a warning that it should not be used on children under two years of age; but, researchers were interested in studying the compound after an infant was brought into the emergency room to be treated for respiratory problems after VapoRub was applied under her nose. They used ferrets as their subjects because of their close airway anatomy to humans. Results show VapoRub increases mucus secretion in both normal and inflamed airways. It also slows the speed at which mucus is cleared from the trachea.

"I recommend never putting Vicks in, or under, the nose of anybody -- adult or child," Dr. Rubin was quoted as saying. "The best treatments for congestion are a bit of saline (salt water) and gentle rubber bulb suction, warm drinks or chicken soup, and, often, just letting the passage of time heal the child," he added.

SOURCE: Chest, 2009:135;143-148