Adverse effects of chemotherapy and their management in Pediatric patients with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Kenya: A descriptive, situation analysis study

ABSTRACT

Background: Chemotherapy-related side effects and their management in patients with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) are not well defined in developing countries, including Kenya. This needs addressing considering the high number of patients with cancer in these countries. Consequently, we sought to determine the common side effects of chemotherapy used to treat NHL in pediatric patients and its implications.

Methods: Observational study conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital in patients aged ≤15 years. Some data was collected by reviewing patients’ records admitted to the pediatric oncology ward, December 2016 to May 2017; and additional data was collected retrospectively (review of patients’ records with NHL, January-2014 to May-2017). Data were analyzed descriptively.

Results: Overall, out of the identified NHL patients (n = 85), 93% (n = 79) had chemotherapy-related side effects. The majority of patients suffered from side effects were managed; apart from 23% to 24% of the documented anemia and hypersensitivity, respectively.

Conclusions: Whilst the majority of the reported side-effects were being managed, the lack of management of some side effects raises real concerns since this indicates either failure to manage or failure to document their management in patients’ records, both of which should be addressed appropriately to improve future care.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemotherapy
• side effects
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• developing countries
• Kenya

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Authors contributions

LO, MM and SO were involved in the conception, design, analysis, and interpretation of the data; BG and AK were involved in the analysis and interpretation of the results. All the authors participated in the drafting of the paper, and critically revising it following comments from the reviewers. All authors approved of the final version of the paper and all authors agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.