Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are the most common gastrointestinal side-effects in
children with leukemia. Frequent vomiting may lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and depression.
Non-traditional therapy such as acupressure and ginger has been recommended to be used for reducing the
gastrointestinal disorders in children with leukemia. Objective: Assess the effect of acupressure versus
ginger on gastrointestinal side-effects of chemotherapy for children with leukemia. Setting: The study was
conducted at the Inpatient and Outpatient Hematology/Oncology Unit at Alexandria University Children's
Hospital. Subjects: A convenience sampling of 90 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia comprised
the study subjects, their ages ranged from 7-15 years. The study subjects were randomly divided into three
equal groups (control, acupressure and ginger groups). Tools: Three tools were used: Tool I: Assessment
of Biosocial Data of Children, Tool II: Assessment of Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea and Dehydration, and
Tool III: Assessment of Severity of Nausea and Vomiting by Visual Analogue Scale. Results: The present
study revealed that the percentages of children who experienced nausea in ginger group were decreasing
through the three days of the three studied sessions compared to the percentages of children in acupressure
and control groups and significant differences were illustrated between the three studied groups (1stsession
X2=91.05, P=0.00,2ndsession X2=83.07, P=0.00,3rdsession X2=62.43, P=0.00).The same results were
found regarding the children who experienced vomiting and significant differences were illustrated
between the three studied groups(1stsession X2=92.67, P=0.00,2nd session X2=81.76, P=0.00,3rd session
X2=71.09, P=0.00). Concerning diarrhea none of the children in the three studied groups experienced
diarrhea through the three days of 2nd and 3rd sessions and significant differences were clarified (2nd
session X2=6.07, P=0.05, 3rd session X2=8.12, P=0.02). None of the children in ginger group experienced
severe degree of nausea on the third day of the three studied sessions while, the acupressure group
experienced severe degree of nausea through the third day of 1st and 2nd sessions in a percent of 66.7% and
25.0% respectively.. Conclusion: It was concluded from the current study that ginger lozenges has more
effect than acupressure technique in alleviating the chemotherapy gastrointestinal side effects for children
with leukemia. Recommendations: Ginger and acupressure for management of gastrointestinal side-effects
can be considered in pediatric oncology unit protocols, and educational programs can be carried out for
children with leukemia and their caregivers about this non-traditional therapy.