ORAL MUCOSITIS

Mucositis (oral Mucositis)

Mucositis (Oral Mucositis)

Introduction

Mucositis is an inflammation and painful penetration of the membranes lining the reproductive tract, gastrointestinal (GI). This is usually a side effect of treatments chemotherapy and radiotherapy of cancer. Occurs anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, oral mucositis but the term refers exclusively to inflammation and ulceration of the oral mucosa. Oral mucositis is a common and often debilitating complication of cancer treatment (Vacha, Fehlauer, et al. 2003: 385). Oral and gastrointestinal mucositis can affect up to 100% of patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and / or hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) in 80% of patients with tumors in the head and neck are receiving radiation therapy, and a smaller proportion of patients being treated with chemotherapy. (Scully & Sonis, 2006: 229).

The reason that I have chosen this topic is that oral side effects, including oral mucositis (mouth ulceration), remain a major source of illness despite the use of a variety of agents for treatment. In this essay we will be discussing the two major parts that involve in oral mucositis. Those parts are the pathophysiology of cytotoxic drugs and management of their side effects, and risk of chemotherapy administration, safety procedures and management of adverse events.

The Pathophysiology of Cytotoxic Drugs and Managment of Their Side Effects

To date there is no any method to quantify the results individually the magnitude and the short-and long-term consequences of exposure to cytostatic, but there is no data to rule out that exposure to low doses and is exempt from continuing risk because the effects can be subclinical and not be evident for years of continued exposure. Therefore, the management of these drugs should be considered potentially dangerous, as there is a consensus that the risk is a consequence of exposure to cytostatic manipulator, there should be policies for handling these drugs whose purpose will be to avoid such exposure.

With the current knowledge on the subject, it seems clear that the potential risk to the health of medical personnel in contact with cytostatic compounds can be controlled effectively by a combination of actions and controls characteristic of industrial hygiene techniques and personal protective clothing and appropriate work practices (Stiff, et al. 2006: 393). In every case must proceed to a strong training workers to also know the risk, are motivated to minimize with appropriate working methods. Professional exposure to these drugs depends not only on the number of daily preparations are made but, above all, personal art work and the precautions to be taken during handling. Therefore the company should establish a preventive action, regulating the procedures in this area to provide protection and security personnel handle and prevent environmental contamination that may result from improper handling thereof and / or waste treatment (Worthington & Clarkson, 2001: 121).

Cytostatic drugs are drugs capable of inhibiting the uncontrolled growth of tumor cells, disrupting cell division and destroying the cells that divide more rapidly. For these reasons this class of drugs used in drug treatment (chemotherapy) neoplastic disease, as monotherapy or in combination ...