Use of an aloe vera gel for treating chemotherapy rela ted oral mucositis in children with cancer: a pilot study

Abstract

The aim of this study  was  to  establish  the  efficiency  of  a  sabila  gel  for  treating  chemotherapy  related mucositis  in  children  with  cancer.  This  randomized  quantitative  srudy  was  performed   at  the  oncology   unit of a  pub lic  hospital  during  one  year.  This  study  included  16  children,  whom  entered  to  che  hos pital  for oral mucosa high toxici ty treatment. In order to preven, mucositis,  che  control  group  was  treated  with  a fungicide and mouth rinses with Chlor hexid in e, and the experimental group received  sabila  gel  and  one fungicide. Ali the patients started the treacment wich grade O mucositis proto col ar rh e beginning of che chemotherapy. The average scarting  rate  for  che  mu cosi tis was  6  days  posr  chemotherapy.  Grade  III mucositis   was  observed   in  che  patients  of  che  control  group,   instead   of   the  patients  of  che  experimental  g roup , who's reached grade II mu cosi tis.  The  maximum  pain  was  che  normally  expected  for  mucositis ,  in bor h groups. The healing rate of  the  mucosa  was  11  days  in  the  control  group  and  7  days  in  the experimental  group,  after  chemotherapy.  Ir  can  be  concluded  that  che  use  of  sabila  prevents  the  mu cosi tis in child with chemothe rapy.