From the FDA Drug Label
Purpose: Nasal Decongestant Active Ingredient: Oxymetazoline HCl 0.05% The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
For upper respiratory tract infections, topical application of medications to the vertex (top of the head) is not a standard or recommended medical treatment, and instead, direct application of medications to the affected areas of the respiratory tract is more effective. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, suggests that nasal irrigation with saline solution may reduce symptom severity in children with URTIs.
Recommended Treatments
- For nasal congestion, saline nasal sprays or drops can be used as needed to moisturize nasal passages and help clear mucus.
- Decongestant nasal sprays like oxymetazoline (Afrin) can provide relief but should not be used for more than 3 days to avoid rebound congestion, as supported by 2.
- For sore throat, throat lozenges containing benzocaine or menthol can provide temporary relief.
- Steam inhalation with or without essential oils like eucalyptus or menthol may help loosen congestion.
- For severe symptoms, prescription medications like corticosteroid nasal sprays (fluticasone, mometasone) may be recommended by healthcare providers for reducing inflammation, as mentioned in 3.
Rationale
These treatments work by directly targeting the inflamed tissues in the respiratory tract rather than applying medication to the scalp, which would not effectively reach the respiratory system. Early intervention, as discussed in 4, is key to reducing the severity of symptoms and preventing complications.
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of these strategies is highly increased with early intervention, administered prior to the peaking of viral shedding, as noted in 4.
- Mucoadhesive gel nasal sprays have shown promising results for early intervention of acute URTI, as mentioned in 4.
- Nasal irrigation with saline solution may reduce symptom severity in children with URTIs, with a level of evidence of 2 and a recommendation strength of B, as found in 1.