Effectiveness of Home Based Steam Inhalation on Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infection among Under-Five Children at Selected Villages in Bangalore

Abstract

Acute upper respiratory tract infections (AURTIs) remain one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years, particularly in developing countries. While pharmacological options are limited, steam inhalation offers a simple, low-cost, home-based intervention. This study evaluated the effectiveness of home-based steam inhalation in reducing symptoms of AURTIs among under-five children in rural Bangalore. A pre-experimental one-group pre-test & post-test design was adopted. Sixty children aged 1–5 years with AURTIs were selected using convenient sampling. Symptoms were assessed using a structured observational checklist. Steam inhalation was administered every six hours for three days under supervision. Effectiveness was analyzed using paired t-test, and associations with demographic variables were examined using chi-square test. Before intervention, most children presented with cough (95%), fever, rhinorrhea, nasal stuffiness, and sneezing (70–90%), while 50–60% had wheezing and tachypnea. The mean symptom score reduced significantly from 36.1 (SD = 15.06) pretest to 12.8 (SD = 9.48) post-test (t = 4.14, p < 0.001). Post-intervention, 95% of children had only mild symptoms, and none progressed to severe illness. No significant associations were found between treatment effectiveness and demographic variables. Home-based steam inhalation is a safe, inexpensive, and effective method for reducing AURTI symptoms among under-five children. It can be recommended as a supportive home-care practice to improve child health and minimize unnecessary medication use in community settings.