Recognize Signs Of Chemotherapy Side Effects In Children

Pediatrician Consultant Hematology Oncology Endang Windiastuti. (Photo: DOC. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Pediatrician Consultant Hematology Oncology Endang Windiastuti said parents need to know when the danger sign of side effects of chemotherapy in children with cancer, one of which is vomiting.

"I've been given anti-mptomy, nothing has changed, vomiting every time I'm fed, mother gives me a drink because she wants to replace vomit, which is a lot afraid that her child will get dehydrated, she nausea, weakness and cold sweat," said Endang at the Child Cancer Support Support Event at the MRCC Siloam Hospital, Jakarta, Saturday.

Endang said that vomiting nausea can also occur due to the child's negative thoughts on chemotherapy so that it manifests it by vomiting. If a child has spontaneous vomiting before coughing, especially when waking up, and occurs for more than two days, it is feared that something will happen to his brain or cancer has spread (metastasis) to the brain's organs.

Vomiting accompanied by blood, whether fresh blood or black blood also needs to be a concern for parents.

Blood coming out of vomiting can be from stomach acid that rises with food.

In addition, be aware of weight loss due to excessive vomiting of more than 10 percent, and longer sleep time for children due to declining consciousness due to dehydration.

"If the child sleeps a lot, it means that awareness is starting to fall or maybe he is already dehydrated, urination (BAK) is rare, if at night he likes to use the pressperson until the morning it is dry, it means that he doesn't urinate and that becomes one of the parameters, he must be immediately taken to the hospital, limp, cold hands, so that must be escorted," he said.

In addition to vomiting nausea, the side effects of chemotherapy that should be of concern are the presence of sariawan in the mouth and tongue so that children have difficulty speaking due to pain.

Prevention that can be done by parents, said Endang, by providing a little food for calorie needs and providing cold food or drinks as an anestheticism effect on the filter.

This doctor who graduated from the University of Indonesia said parents should also avoid their children drinking milk from dot until they fall asleep because the remaining milk in the mouth can cause sariawan.

It is better to do the routine of cleaning your mouth frequently with warm salt water mouths as disinfectants.

"It turns out that water that contains salt can be as disinfectant in the mouth, so if there is NaCl at the hospital, but if I always apply for it at home, but don't make it salty, and always maintain hydration, monitor defecation," said Endang.

Endang said that supportive therapy outside drug therapy needs to be done to improve the quality of life for children with cancer.

Parents need to recognize the symptoms of side effects of chemotherapy so that they can get an early implementation immediately.