Uso do Anacardium occidentale no tratamento de feridas crônicas.

Abstract

In the context of public health, chronic wound is a problem that has been frequent and requires adequate and affordable interventions that promote cost reduction, provide comfort, well-being and, above all, healing. Based on this assumption, medicinal plants provide an affordable and inexpensive alternative, especially Anacardium occidentale because it is a common plant in the Northeast region and has proven anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities, and its use is regulated by ANVISA. Objectives: To analyze the application of the Anacardium Occidentale in the treatment of chronic wounds; to apply the decoction of A. Occidentale on chronic wounds of patients cared for at home by the "Melhor em Casa" program; and to analyze the effects of the application of A. occidentale decoction on the cicatrization process. Methodology: This is a case report of a patient with chronic wound, using the decoction of the Anacardim occidentalis in the cleaning of his lesion, developed in the primary care service of the municipality of Cuité / PB, through the Program of Better Home Care at home. For data collection, an instrument was used with socio-demographic data and health conditions, including anamnesis and other files for evaluation of the lesion, performed once a week for two months. Absolute distributions, uni and bivariate percentages and statistical measures were obtained for data analysis: mean, median and standard deviation (Descriptive statistics techniques). Results and Discussion: The wound had a good evolution regarding the extent of the lesion, characteristics and volume of exudate in the initial wound, however, there was an injury to the deep tissue damage that existed since the first evaluation in the adjacent area of the wound. Although the various studies prove the efficacy of Anacardium o. and the results observed in the first evaluations were satisfactory, the factor that favored the failure of the treatment was the resistance of the caregivers with the adhesion of the measures for relief of the pressure, being, therefore, an obstacle for the treatment to be totally effective. Conclusion: Thus, the study presented limitations because it was performed in a debilitated patient, because it is a wound related to multiple associated factors and because of its cicatricial process requires a series of actions that goes beyond simple cleaning and application of coverages. This requires the active participation of the patient and the caregiver in several areas, especially in the underlying cause of the injury. Thus, other investigations must be carried out with Anacardium occidentale on different types of lesions, in order to verify its antiseptic, antimicrobial and antinociceptive properties and to show its efficacy as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory in chronic wounds.