Children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: characteristics and use of medicinal plants / Crianças e adolescentes com doença falciforme: características e uso de plantas medicinais

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and evaluate the use of medicinal plants in these patients concomitantly with their drug treatment. Methods: This is a review of the medical records of pediatric patients at a public institution with tertiary care. The selection criterion was to be a child or adolescent with SCD undergoing pediatric follow-up at this outpatient clinic. In the medical records of the patients selected, records of the use of plants for medicinal purposes were sought. Results: In total, 154 records (100% of total active patients followed in this clinic) were reviewed: 99 children and 55 adolescents. The predominant genotype was SS (58.4%), followed by SC (29.2%). The use of at least one medication for SCD was reported in 95.5% of the medical records. The use of medicinal plants was reported by 70.1% of patients, with 276 citations in the medical records referring to 64 different types of plants. Six plants were used for the treatment of SCD, the main one being Lemonvine/Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata). The use of medicinal plants was reported for flu-like symptoms and/or COVID-19 (both for prevention and treatment) by 60.5% of the citations, with 35 different plants reported for this use, exclusively or not. This use was followed by pain symptoms (14.2% of citations). Conclusions: The majority of patients in this study use both conventional and traditional/complementary/alternative medicine, highlighting the need for more studies in the area, with a special focus on patient safety.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as características epidemiológicas de pacientes pediátricos com doença falciforme (DF) e avaliar o uso de plantas medicinais concomitantemente ao tratamento medicamentoso. Métodos: Realizou-se revisão de prontuários de pacientes pediátricos de uma instituição pública com nível de atendimento terciário; o critério de seleção foi ser criança ou adolescente com DF em acompanhamento pediátrico neste ambulatório. Nos prontuários dos pacientes selecionados foi procurado o registro do uso de plantas com finalidades medicinais. Resultados: Foram revisados 154 prontuários (100% dos pacientes ativos desse ambulatório): 99 crianças e 55 adolescentes. O genótipo predominante foi SS (58,4%), seguido do SC (29,2%). O uso de ao menos uma medicação para a DF foi relatada em 95,5% dos prontuários. Em 70,1% dos prontuários havia o relato do uso de plantas medicinais, em 276 citações, sendo 64 plantas citadas ao todo; destas, seis espécies foram citadas para o tratamento da doença de base (DF), sendo "ora-pro-nobis" (Pereskia aculeata) a principal. Das 276 citações de plantas medicinais nos prontuários, 60,5% incluíram o uso de plantas medicinais em sintomas gripais e/ou COVID-19 (tanto prevenção quanto tratamento), sendo relatadas 35 para este uso, exclusivamente ou não. Essa foi a principal finalidade de uso encontrada nos prontuários dos pacientes, seguida do uso para sintomas de dor (14,2% das citações). Conclusões: Notou-se que a maioria dos pacientes avaliados faz uso da medicina convencional, aliada à tradicional/ complementar/ alternativa, o que leva à necessidade de mais estudos nessas áreas, especialmente na pediatria, visando principalmente à segurança do paciente.

Children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: characteristics and use of medicinal plants.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and evaluate the use of medicinal plants in these patients concomitantly with their drug treatment. METHODS: This is a review of the medical records of pediatric patients at a public institution with tertiary care. The selection criterion was to be a child or adolescent with SCD undergoing pediatric follow-up at this outpatient clinic. In the medical records of the patients selected, records of the use of plants for medicinal purposes were sought. RESULTS: In total, 154 records (100% of total active patients followed in this clinic) were reviewed: 99 children and 55 adolescents. The predominant genotype was SS (58.4%), followed by SC (29.2%). The use of at least one medication for SCD was reported in 95.5% of the medical records. The use of medicinal plants was reported by 70.1% of patients, with 276 citations in the medical records referring to 64 different types of plants. Six plants were used for the treatment of SCD, the main one being Lemonvine/Ora-pro-nóbis (Pereskia aculeata). The use of medicinal plants was reported for flu-like symptoms and/or COVID-19 (both for prevention and treatment) by 60.5% of the citations, with 35 different plants reported for this use, exclusively or not. This use was followed by pain symptoms (14.2% of citations). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients in this study use both conventional and traditional/complementary/alternative medicine, highlighting the need for more studies in the area, with a special focus on patient safety.

Large-scale Degradation of the Tocantins-Araguaia River Basin.

The Tocantins-Araguaia Basin is one of the largest river systems in South America, located entirely within Brazilian territory. In the last decades, capital-concentrating activities such as agribusiness, mining, and hydropower promoted extensive changes in land cover, hydrology, and environmental conditions. These changes are jeopardizing the basin's biodiversity and ecosystem services. Threats are escalating as poor environmental policies continue to be formulated, such as environmentally unsustainable hydropower plants, large-scale agriculture for commodity production, and aquaculture with non-native fish. If the current model persists, it will deepen the environmental crisis in the basin, compromising broad conservation goals and social development in the long term. Better policies will require thought and planning to minimize growing threats and ensure the basin's sustainability for future generations.