A Study Comparing the Effectiveness of Two Methods of Treating Ammoniacal Diaper Rash
This study was conducted to find out if there was any significant difference in the effectiveness of two methods of treating ammoniacal diaper rash. The experimental method with parallel groups and a single variable was used. The instructions for hygienic measures were the same in the control and experimental groups. The variable was that the mothers of the infants of the experimental group used an ointment containing vitamins A and D in addition to the hygienic measures. A review of literature on diaper rash was done at the library on the Los Angeles campus of Loma Linda University. No study was found to have been done on the effectiveness of a bland ointment containing vitamins A and D in the treatment of diaper rash. Ammoniacal diaper rash is caused by the action of microorganisms always present in the stools on urea in the urine. One of the end products is ammonia which causes the skin irritation. Urine and alkaline stools promote the growth of the bacillus ammoniagenes while an acid medium inhibits its growth. Many types of oils, lotions, creams and powders have been employed in the treatment of ammoniacal diaper rash. This study was conducted in the White Memorial Hospital Pediatric Clinic on forty-two infants with ammoniacal diaper rash. They were placed alternately, in the control and experimental groups. The data were gathered by the researcher in the form of a questionnaire when the interview was made in the clinic and from an observation form completed by the mother. The observation form for one infant in each group, was not obtained; thus forty infants were used in the final analyses. The data collected were analyzed by the coefficient of correlation and the "Student" t table. Seven correlations were done which revealed that there was: (1) a slightly positive correlation between the days of duration of the rash prior to treatment and the days required for healing; the severity of the rash and the days required for healing; the age of the infant and the days required for healing (the control group had a slightly higher correlation in each of the above comparisons); and (2) practically no correlation between the area of involvement and the days required for healing in either group. Three correlations were done on the group as a whole which showed: (1) a slightly positive correlation between the number of days the infant had the rash prior to treatment and the severity of the rash; (2) no correlation between the severity of the rash and the diaper cleansing agent used or between the age of the infant and the severity of the rash. The hypothesis was supported in that the two methods of treating diaper rash appeared to be equally effective in this study. It is recommended that more emphasis be placed on keeping the diaper area clean by washing with cool, running water and on using the vinegar rinse for diapers.
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