Studying and Comparing the Effects of Cetirizine, Gabapentin, and Coconut Oil on Reducing Skin Itching after Burn Wound Healing

Burns is one of the most severe forms of trauma that cause damage to the skin and subcutaneous tissues in different ways with different severity and extent. Effective reduction of itching symptoms after burns is a major problem in rehabilitating all burn patients. However, although there are many potential treatments for pruritus, there is still no consensus on the best treatment. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the effects of cetirizine, gabapentin, and coconut oil in reducing skin itching after burn wound healing.

The present research population was selected from among the patients of Amir-Al-Momenin burn hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences who suffered from mild to severe burns that are resistant to treatment and sometimes have bleeding. In this study, after the approval of the ethical committee of the University Research Council and the consent of the patients, 150 people were selected by random sampling. To collect data from the studied sample, the questionnaire of Khars Yusipovich et al. (2001) was used. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using t-correlated and covariance analysis and with the help of SPSS.

The average and standard deviation of the itchiness of the burn site before the cetirizine drug is 4.32 and 0.74. Also, the average and standard deviation of the itchiness of the burn site after the cetirizine drug is equal to 3.04 and 1.57. The mean and standard deviation of the itchiness of the burn site before the gabapentin drug are equal to 4.98 and 0.82. Also, the average and standard deviation of the itchiness of the burn site after the gabapentin drug is equal to 1.66 and 0.47. The average and standard deviation of the itchiness of the burn site before coconut oil is equal to 4.40 and 1.76. Also, the mean and standard deviation of the itchiness of the burn site after coconut oil is equal to 1.60 and 0.49. The intensity of itching was measured before and after the administration of cetirizine, gabapentin, and coconut oil, and there was a significant difference between all three groups.

This study showed that all three drugs, cetirizine, gabapentin, and coconut oil, reduce itching after burns and coconut oil showed the greatest effect, followed by gabapentin and finally cetirizine. The long-term follow-up of patients after discharge from the hospital showed that after transplant surgery, itching was less and that patients who lived in cold areas experienced less itching after burns.