Oral Mucositis in Children Suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia”

Abstract

Background: Oral mucositis is the most commonly reported side effect observed in neoplastic patients treated with
chemotherapy and radiotherapy of the head and neck region as well as in patients who have received a haematopoietic
stem cell transplant. The aim of the study was to assess the oral mucosa status in children with acute lymphoblastic
leukaemia (ALL) during antineoplastic therapy.
Material and methods: The clinical examination included 127 children aged 5-15 with ALL. The clinical examination was conducted
using the dental diagnostic instrument. The condition of the oral mucosa was determined using the WHO scale for oral mucositis.
Results: In the first period of antineoplastic therapy the pathological lesions of the oral mucosa of the mucositis type were observed
among the examined patients. The lesions had various levels of intensity. Pain was found to be the primary symptom of
oral mucositis. In this study the following were observed: local erythema of the oral mucosa in 10%, ulcerative lesions in 5%.The
remaining 85% patient who cannot eat or drink because of pain and soreness.
Conclusion: Local treatment of oral mucositis with polyantibiotic-antifungal mixture, supporting antifungal systemic treatment,
and improving the overall peripheral blood conditions in children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia improve the condition
of the oral mucosa.
Key words: oral mucositis, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), children.