BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Sickle cell disease is the most frequent hereditary disease in Brazil, being considered a public health problem. It causes repetitive exposure to pain, which in childhood leads to permanent or long-term changes in the central nervous system and may lead to death. Management with drugs poses risks especially in terms of adverse effects. Natural, noninvasive methods, such as laser acupuncture, may be effective, cheap and useful to treat children affected by this disease, as well as they may decrease public expenses. This study aimed at showing the use of laser acupuncture for pain management in a child with sickle cell disease, thus decreasing drug ingestion.
CASE REPORT:
Six years old child diagnosed with sickle cell disease having pain status evaluated by the Wong Baker scale for 2 weeks. In the first week the child was treated only with analgesics, if needed, and in the second week the child was submitted to daily laser acupuncture sessions, without receiving analgesics.
CONCLUSION:
Initial symptoms were significantly decreased with laser acupuncture and we decided to continue with the treated designed to further improve the balance obtained. Also, this study shows that laser acupuncture may considerably decrease the use of analgesics and, as a consequence, with potential to decrease their adverse effects.
Acupuncture; Children; Laser; Sickle cell disease