Application of light at acupuncture points in the treatment of pain in children with sickle cell disease

INTERVENTION: C15.378.071.141.150.150 Children with sickle cell disease (n = 48) will have the degree of pain estimated by the Wong Baker scale and its recorded electroencephalographic tracing. Children with no prior diagnosis of sickle cell anemia and no reported pain (n = 24) will also have their electroencephalographic tracing recorded playing the role of control group. The electrodes will be positioned according to the sequence of the international 10‐20 system to record the evoked potential results for 5 minutes. The choice of acupoints that will conduct the so‐called energy treatment according to Traditional Chinese Medicine will be carried out observing habitual parameters such as the pulse, aspect of the language, psychological and physiological information. Participants with sickle cell disease will be distributed through a previous randomization in the AL (acupuncture to LASER) and SHAM groups (acupuncture to LASER with the device turned off) and submitted to a 30‐minute acupuncture session. A new electroencephalographic record will be obtained after the intervention. The use of drugs will be recorded (dose, frequency and time of taking) at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after the intervention through the telephone interview. The score on the Wong Baker scale will also be obtained at 24 hrs, 48 ??hs and 72 hs at the time of the same interviews. Device E02.594.540 H02.004 CONDITION: C15.378.071.141.150.150 D50‐D89 Sickle disease Pain Child ; C15.378.071.141.150.150 ; M25.5 ; Z38.2 PRIMARY OUTCOME: Score reduction on the Wong Baker scale (0‐10) at 24 h, 48 h or 72 h after LASER acupuncture compared to the score before performing LASER acupuncture . SECONDARY OUTCOME: Reduction of drug ingestion in 24h, 48h, 72h after LASER acupuncture session compared to the amount ingested before the session. Studies have shown that individuals with pain have higher power densities in theta and alpha at rest compared to healthy individuals , suggesting that the analgesic effect provided by the application of LASER acupuncture in children may have the opposite effect of reducing of the power density in the theta and alpha bands. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients with sickle cell disease confirmed by laboratory examination (falcization or hemoglobin electrophoresis test); report of joint pain in hematological consultation ; written proof of the authorization of the person responsible for inclusion in the study by signing a Free and Clarified Consent Term.