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Abstract
Background: Oral mucositis is a painful and often disabling side effect of chemotherapy in children with acute myeloid leukemia. It can affect eating, speaking, and overall quality of life. Zinc is known for its role in healing and cell repair, but research on its benefit in preventing mucositis has shown mixed results.
Objective: This study was conducted to see whether giving oral zinc along with chemotherapy could help reduce the occurrence of oral mucositis in children being treated for acute myeloid leukemia.
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place and duration of study: This study was conducted in the department of Oncology & Pediatric Medicine, The Children’s Hospital, Lahore from 18th January 2025 to 30th June 2025.
Methods: A total of 60 children between 5 and 14 years of age receiving induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia were enrolled. They were divided into two groups. Group A received oral zinc sulfate along with the chemotherapy, while Group B received chemotherapy with a placebo. Zinc was given once daily for 14 days. After two weeks, the children were assessed using the WHO Oral Toxicity Scale along with pain scoring and lesion counts.
Results: Only 5 children in the zinc group developed oral mucositis compared to 18 in the placebo group. Children who received zinc also had less pain and fewer lesions overall. The zinc group showed an efficacy rate of more than eighty percent in preventing mucositis, compared with forty percent in the placebo group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant.
Conclusion: Zinc supplementation helped protect children from developing oral mucositis during chemotherapy. It also reduced both the severity and the frequency of this painful condition. Zinc is inexpensive, safe, and easy to administer, making it a promising supportive therapy in pediatric oncology care.