Generality
Mucositis is an "inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx.
This disorder represents one of the most common side effects of anticancer therapies (in particular, chemotherapy and radiotherapy), which can alter the integrity of oropharyngeal tissues.
Mucositis causes redness, burning, pain, ulceration and difficulty in feeding. The inflammatory process also compromises the barrier function of the oral mucosa and increases the risk of infections affecting the soft tissues of the mouth.
Mucositis can be very debilitating, so it is important to try to prevent the disorder and recognize the first symptoms to intervene as soon as possible. In some cases, in fact, the inflammatory process can extend to the entire mucosa lining the gastrointestinal tract (mucositis of the digestive system) and upper airways.
Causes and risk factors
Mucositis is an "inflammation that mainly affects the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and pharyngeal tract.
As a rule, this fabric consists of:
- Multi-layered paving (or squamous) epithelium: devoid of keratin, it reproduces every 7-14 days;
- Submucosa: Contains blood vessels, nerve endings and extracellular matrix.
The etiopathogenesis of mucositis is not yet completely clear, but it seems that the inflammatory process of the epithelium is preceded by damage to the vascular and connective components in the submucosa.
The main causes of mucositis are anticancer therapies, but other factors can favor the onset of the inflammatory process or influence its extent.
These include:
- Malnutrition;
- Dehydration;
- Poor or incorrect oral hygiene;
- Altered secretion of saliva for quantity and quality;
- Habit of taking too hot, cold, very spicy or acidic foods;
- Previous damage to the oral cavity;
- Presence of infections or, in general, impairment of the immune system;
- Smoking habits;
- Genetic predisposition.
Mucositis can become complicated in the presence of local factors capable of damaging the oral mucosal lining, such as periodontal infections, incongruous prostheses, and fractured or sharp teeth.
Furthermore, it has been found that the risk of developing mucositis in children undergoing anticancer therapies is higher than in adults. A greater predisposition to have severe and long-lasting mucositis has also been observed in people over the age of 50; this may be partly due to the reduced renal excretion of chemotherapy drugs.
