Mucositis treatment

Mucositis is defined as inflammatory and/or ulcerative lesions of the oral and/or gastrointestinal system. It is one of the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy used in cancer treatment. The incidence rate of mucositis is 15-40% in standard-dose chemotherapy, 76-100% in high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant, and 100% in radiation therapy applied for head-neck. While oral mucositis can cause pain as well as sensitivity in mouth and throat, it can also severely affect oral functions such as swallowing, taste, and speaking. Severe mucositis leads to increase the pain in the oral mucosa. Many pharmacological and non-pharmacological options are available to treat mucositis. The literature reveals studies looking at pharmacological approaches including oral care involving 0.9% NaCl and NaHCO3, benzydamine hydrochloride, saline mouthwashes, calcium phosphate mouthwashes, magic mouthwash, and mouthwashes containing G-CSF and GM-CSF. Likewise, studies looking at non-pharmacological approaches focus on cryotherapy, low energy laser treatment, hypnosis, herbal approaches, honey, and black mulberry molasses.