Prevention of oral mucositis after using chamomile oral cryotherapy versus oral cryotherapy in pediatric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy : A randomized pilot study / Dina Yousef Abdelaleem Essa ; Supervised Ola Mostafa Omar , Nada Mohamed Wassef , Ahmed Ibrahiem Ali

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Pedodontics

Aim:To assess the prevention of oral mucositis after using chamomile oral cryotherapy versus oral cryotherapy in pediatric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methodology: The study included pediatric patients diagnosed with osteosarcomaundergoing chemotherapy (Methotrexate),with intact oral mucosa, and no history of administration of any antiviral or antifungal therapy for oral mucositis.The study population was divided equally into two groups using the chamomile oral cryotherapy (Group A) and oral cryotherapy (Group B). Oral mucosa was evaluated at baseline, 8th,15thand 21st day using the World Health Organization Oral Mucositis Toxicity Scale (WHO mucositis scale) and the Children International Mucositis Evaluation Scale (ChIMES). Results: The study population consisted of 20 patients (10 females, 10 males)with a mean age of15 ± 2.55(group A) and 13 ± 3.8(group B) years. ChIMES total score was higher in patients in group B on all evaluation timeswith a median and range values of [0(0-1) for baseline, 6(2-12) for day 8, 7.5(4-12) for day 15 and 2(1-6) for day 21]. According to WHO mucositis scale, patients in chamomile oral cryotherapy group never developed grade 2 or higher mucositis with a statistically significant difference found between both groups at day 15 (80% grade 2 in control group versus 0% in chamomile group).Conclusions:Chamomile oral cryotherapy showed higher success in comparison to oral cryotherapy alonein reducing the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis

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