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- Title
The Efficacy of Honey Dressing in Wound Management: A Clinical Observation.
- Authors
Suhaimi, Anwar; Hairi, Farizah; Akka, Zainabe Syed; Yusof, Kamaruddin Mohd
- Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the overall effectiveness of honey in promoting wound healing using standardised clinical parameters and correlating it to the known healing properties of honey. METHODS Clinical observation using standard parameters was done on 100 patients on honey wound dressing and 22 patients on saline dressing in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) between July 1998 to January 2003. The wounds were classified using the Netherlands Wound-Care Society 1984 colour classification and assessment of wound size, surface area and wound depth were done prior to treatment. RESULTS: The positive effects of honey dressing on wound healing were seen in the reduction of mean wound size beginning in the second week of treatment with a statistically significant (p< 0.05) difference in mean wound size before and after 3 weeks of wound dressing between the two dressing groups. A sharp reduction in the depth of the wounds was seen in patients on honey dressing by the third week of treatment. Wound depth continued to decline significantly beyond the third week (p< 0.05). 98% of the wounds treated with honey reached 0-0.5cm wound depth before discharge. All wounds on honey dressing were colonized before treatment started. However, wound sterility was achieved by the third week of treatment. Wounds on honey dressing achieved better outcome in healing within 3 weeks compared to those on saline dressing (p<0.05), although initially the wounds were in much worse condition. Duration of hospitalisation among patients treated with honey dressing was shorter compared to patients receiving saline wound dressing (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION From the study, it was clinically shown that honey dressing is able to reduce wound size and depth, promote wound healing processes and speed up wound healing which leads to decrease in the treatment period. Various factors present naturally in honey works synergistically to promote the healing process, eradicating the colonizing pathogen and improving overall patient well-being contributing to a better outcome. It is a cost effective wound management option with wide spectrum antimicrobial activity. Honey dressing can be used for multiple types of lesions, needing only simple alteration of its application, making this versatile and ready to use remedy a superior choice as an effective alternative wound dressing.
- Subjects
THERAPEUTIC use of honey; WOUND healing; PATHOGENIC microorganisms; COST effectiveness; ANTI-infective agents
- Publication
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2007, Vol 14, Issue 1, p114
- ISSN
1394-195X
- Publication type
Article