Use of deuterium oxide for the treatment of virus-based diseases of the respiratory tract

A method for treating a virus-based disease of the respiratory tract wherein said method comprises administering to the respiratory tract of a subject in need of such treating an amount effective of deuterium oxide to treat the virus-based disease, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of acute rhinitis, chronic rhinitis, rhinitis sicca, pharyngitis, tracheitis, acute bronchiolitis, chronic bronchiolitis, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, acute sinusitis, and chronic sinusitis.