title: Effects of Honey on Oral Mucositis among Pediatric Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemo/Radiotherapy Treatment at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: One of the most common complications of cancer chemotherapy is oral mucositis. This study evaluates the therapeutic effects of honey with the focus on grade III and IV oral mucositis, reduction of bacterial and fungal infections, duration of episodes of oral mucositis, and body weight in pediatric leukemic patients undergoing chemo/radiotherapy. This is an open labeled randomized controlled study conducted at our hospital on 40 pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemo/radiotherapy. All the 40 patients included in this study experienced a sum total of 390 episodes of fever and neutropenia associated with oral mucositis. A significant reduction of oral mucositis, associatedCandida, and aerobic pathogenic bacterial infections was noted in patients in the honey treatment group. Also, there is a significant decrease in the duration of hospitalization for all those in the treatment group combined with a significant increase of body weight, delayed onset, and decreased severity of pain related to oral mucositis. Complications of oral mucositis can be tremendously reduced by the topical application of local Saudi honey and honey should be used as an integrative approach in prophylaxis and treatment of chemo/radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients. Further research is needed to elucidate and better understand the underlying mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application (YAJCPMA), King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Soad K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Al Jaouni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al Muhayawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abear
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elfiki
authors.affiliation: Saudi Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rajaa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Raddadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Head & Neck Surgical Oncology, KAUH, Faculty of Medicine, KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saad M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Al Muhayawi
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; King Fahd Medical Research Center (KFMRC), KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almasaudi
authors.affiliation: Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application (YAJCPMA), King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; King Fahd Medical Research Center (KFMRC), KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Enzymoics, 7 Peterlee Place, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia; Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, NSW 2770, Australia.
authors.forename: Mohammad Amjad
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0088-0565
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application (YAJCPMA), King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Special Infectious Agents Unit, KFMRC, KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7512-8787
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harakeh