title: Chamomile infusion cryotherapy to prevent oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy: a pilot study.
abstract: The aim of this study is to compare cryotherapy made only with water and cryotherapy made with chamomile infusion for prevention and reduction of intensity of oral mucositis in patients with cancer receiving 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.
  
  
  
  This is a randomized pilot study with two groups: cryotherapy made only with water (control group, n = 18) and cryotherapy made with chamomile infusion (chamomile group, n = 20). Both groups were instructed to swish the ice around in their oral cavity for at least 30 min during chemotherapy. Assessment of oral mucosa occurred on days 8, 15, and 22 after the first day of chemotherapy.
  
  
  
  Fifty percent of the patients in the control and 30 % in the chamomile group developed oral mucositis. Mouth pain score was higher in patients in the control group on all evaluations (p = 0.02 for day 8, p = 0.09 for day 15, and p = 0.14 for day 22). Patients in the chamomile group never developed mucositis with grade 2 or higher. Presence of ulceration was statistically significant on day 8 (16 % in the control vs. 0 % in the chamomile group, p = 0.10), but not in days 15 and 22, although 11 % still had ulcerations in the control group and none in the chamomile group.
  
  
  
  The occurrence of oral mucositis was lower in patients in the chamomile group than in the control group. When compared to the controls, the chamomile group presented less mouth pain and had no ulcerations. Cryotherapy was well tolerated by both groups, and no toxicity related to chamomile was identified.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Darcy Ribeiro University Campus, Asa Norte, Brasilia, Federal District, 71100-070, Brazil. pauladiniz@unb.br.
authors.forename: Paula Elaine Diniz
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Marcia A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ciol
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Department, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nilce Santos
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Department, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Tadeu de Souza
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Department, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Ferreira
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Senado Federal, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália de Melo
authors.initials: Nde M
authors.lastname: Manzi
mesh_terms: D020843:Chamomile / Q000737:chemistry*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy; Cryotherapy; Oral care; Oral mucositis