Effect of Cryotherapy on the Occurrence of Stomatitis Induced by Chemotherapy among Children with Bone Tumors in Egypt

Abstract

Stomatitis has been shown to occur closer to fourty percent in solid tumor children receiving chemotherapy. Cryotherapy is an alternative method of preventing stomatitis associated with chemotherapeutic drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral cryotherapy on the occurrence of stomatitis induced by chemotherapy among children with bone tumors. A quasi-experimental design was utilized on a convenient sample of 60 children with bone tumors, thirty of them followed the hospital routine care (control group) and other thirty sucked ice cubes (study group) before inducing chemotherapy session for five minutes to half an hour during session and thirty five minutes after session. Both groups were treated with the following chemotherapy drugs: Adriamycin and Methotrexate. This study was conducted at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo, Egypt. Oral assessment guide (OAG) was used prior, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th days post intravenous chemotherapy administration during induction phase. Results revealed that no significant difference was detected in the mean total scores of both group prior to chemotherapy administration while it decreased significantly at the third, fourth and fifth days post chemotherapy for children who received oral cryotherapy than do not received. Children who received oral ice cubes had healthier oral cavity than who did not receive. It was concluded that oral cryotherapy reduces the severity of stomatitis induced by chemotherapy. Oral cryotherapy must be involved in the routine care for a child who receiving chemotherapy was recommended.

Keywords: Oral Cryotherapy, Stomatitis, Chemotherapy, Bone Tumors, Children