Healing of Burns in Children: Which is the better Agent, Honey or Silver Sulphadiazine?

Abstract

Abstract Background: Burns constitute a major cause of childhood trauma. There is a need for inexpensive and more effective alternative healing agents, especially in developing countries.

Objectives: To compare the rates of healing of burns dressed with either silver sulphadiazine (SSD) or crude undiluted honey and compare the relative costs of both modes.

Methods: The studywas carried out at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa. Twenty seven children with comparable partial thickness burns were prospectively studied for healing of their burn injuries. They were randomly allotted to two treatment groups of dressing with either SSD or crude undiluted honey. The burns sites were assessed clinically on the 3rd, 7th and 21st days for sloughs, exudates, eschars, granulation tissue and epithelialisation. The duration of hospitalisation for each child as well as the quantity and costs of the dressing agents were also documented.

Results: Honey-treated burns demonstrated quicker healing with faster wound granulation and epithelialisation. The duration of hospital staywas significantly shorter in patients treated with honey than in those treated with SSD (t = 3.06, p = 0.005). Direct cost of the SSD used was 9.75 times that of the honey.

Conclusions: Honey appears to be a superior dressing agent for partial thickness burns than silver sulphadiazine in terms of efficacy and cost. We therefore recommend honey for the dressing of partial thickness burns, particularly in tropical countries where it is readily available and the majority of the people are poor. Enhancement of apiculture should make honey therapy of burns victims much cheaper still. 

Key words: Burns, Healing, Honey, Silver sulphadiazine