title: Effectiveness of Aloe Vera gel compared with 1% silver sulphadiazine cream as burn wound dressing in second degree burns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of Aloe Vera gel compared with 1% silver sulfadiazine cream as a burn dressing for the treatment of superficial and partial thickness burns.
  
  
  METHODS
  This Interventional Comparative study was carried out at the Burn unit and Plastic surgery department, Nishtar Hospital Multan, Pakistan from July 2008 to December 2010. A total of 50 patients with superficial and partial thickness burns were divided into two equal groups randomly by consecutive sampling method, one group was dressed with Aloe Vera gel while the other was treated with 1% silversulphadiazine cream, and the results regarding duration of wound epithelialization, pain relief and cost of treatment were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients treated with Aloe Vera gel, healing of burn wounds were remarkably early than those patients treated with 1% silver sulfadiazine. All the patients of Aloe Vera group were relieved of pain earlier than those patients who were treated with SSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thermal burns patients dressed with Aloe Vera gel showed advantage compared to those dressed with SSD regarding early wound epithelialization, earlier pain relief and cost-effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Nishtar Hospital, Multan. drmuhammaad@gmail.com
authors.forename: Muhammad Naveed
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Shahzad
authors.forename: Naheed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000504:Aloe; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid / Q000191:economics; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; C069726:aloe vera gel extract hydrogel dressing; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine