Objective To explore the effects of aerosol inhalation of recombinant human interferon α-1b on children patients with viral upper respiratory tract infection and its influence on cough and levels of serum SIL-2R and TNF-α. Methods 206 children patients with upper respiratory tract infection were randomly divided into control group (n=103, given ribavirin) and observation group (n=103, given aerosol inhalation of recombinant human interferon α-1b assisted with ribavirin). The improvement times of symptoms of cough, fever, antiadoncus and intrapulmonary rales were compared, and the immune indicators of IL-2, SIL-2R and CD4+/CD8+ and inflammatory factors of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 were observed, and the adverse reactions were recorded. Results After treatment, the remission times of cough, fever, antiadoncus and intrapulmonary rales in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the IL-2 level and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the two groups were significantly increased while the level of SIL-2R was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the improvement of each index in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL10 in the two groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the decreases in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Aerosol inhalation of recombinant human interferon α-1b assisted with ribavirin can safely and effectively accelerate the recovery of symptoms, significantly improve the immune level and reduce inflammatory factors in the treatment of children with viral upper respiratory tract infection.