Comparative study of therapeutic effect of common salt application for 10 minutes versus 30 minutes in the treatment of umbilical granuloma in infants

Abstract

Background: Various studies have advised application of common salt for 30 min twice a day for 3–7 days in the treatment of umbilical granuloma (UG). However, application for 30 min in infants is distressing to both parents and baby. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare the therapeutic effect of short application time (10 min) with long application time (30 min) of common salt in the treatment of UG. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental randomized study was conducted in the department of pediatrics of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Kolhapur. A total of 60 infants of 3–12 weeks of age with clinically diagnosed UG were included and 30 infants were randomly divided into each group. After thoroughly demonstrating the method of salt application to parents, they were asked to apply a pinch of salt over the UG twice a day for 7 days. Before and after the salt applications, site was cleaned with cotton ball soaked in cold boiled water. After salt application, area was covered with adhesive tape for 10 min in Group A and 30 min in Group B. Infants were evaluated after 1 and 3 weeks to look for therapeutic response as total, partial, or no response. The data were analyzed statistically. Results: Of 60 infants, 40 (66.66%) were in between 3 and 6 weeks of age group. There were 33 (51.66%) males and 29 (48.34%) females. Therapeutic total response was showed in 57 (95%) infants from both groups with 28 (93.33%) infants from Group A as compared to 29 (96.66%) from Group B. Partial response was shown in 2 (6.67%) infants in Group A and 1 (3.34%) infant in Group B, respectively. Therapeutic effect of salt application for 10 min and 30 min was statistically similar. Conclusion: Common salt could be used for just 10 min twice a day for 7 days in the treatment of UG.