Salty mist may ease cystic fibrosis

Mists of inhaled saltwater can reduce the pus and infection that fills the airways of cystic fibrosis sufferers, although side effects include a nasty coughing fit and a harsh taste.

That’s the conclusion of two studies published in the Jan. 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

They found that inhaling a mist with a salt content of 7% or 9% improved lung function and, in some cases, produced less absenteeism from school or work.

Cystic fibrosis, a progressive and frequently fatal genetic disease, affects about 30,000 young adults and children in the United States.