As cold season starts, parents warned of vaporiser dangers

By Clare Kermond
Updated May 5 2016 - 12:43pm, first published 11:52am
Hot steam from vaporisers can cause serious burns to young skin. Photo: George Fetting
Hot steam from vaporisers can cause serious burns to young skin. Photo: George Fetting
Researchers say there is little medical evidence that vaporisers are effective in  treating the symptoms of coughs and colds. Photo: Kim-Cherie Davidson
Researchers say there is little medical evidence that vaporisers are effective in treating the symptoms of coughs and colds. Photo: Kim-Cherie Davidson

Doctors have urged parents to take care using steam vaporisers, after a hospital study found one child a month suffered burns from the popular devices, half of them requiring surgery.