Trial of an oral antigen against upper respiratory-tract infection. Results in the second year (1973-74).

A double-blind trial in two randomly structured groups of boarders (44 girls and 66 boys) aged 7 to 13 years was undertaken in two Bristrol schools. Dosage was 1 ml a day of fluid (antigen or placebo) orally for the first four weeks of the autumn term, absenteeism being the main parameter measured, using a structured recording code. There was a highly significant difference in the number of days lost from upper respiratory-tract infection in the treated as opposed to the placebo group (x2 = 40-00 P less than 0-001 (v = 1). The number of colds was also significantly lower in the treated group (x2 = 8-05 P less than 0-005 (V less than i)).