CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED STOMATITIS: PREVENTION AND CARE

Athanasia Michailidou, Ioannis Koutelekos, Evangelos Dousis

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Publication year:

2021

Authors:

• Michailidou Athanasia, RN, MSc(c), MSc in “Clinical Pediatrics and Nursing-Research”
• Koutelekos Ioannis, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing A',Technological Educational Institute of Athens
• Dousis Evangelos, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, University of West Attika

Keywords index:

• Leukemia
• Children
• Treatment
• Stomatitis
• Oral Mucositis

Pages: 148-158

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5651446

Abstract:

Introduction: Chemotherapy is an important treatment option for children with leukemia. However, its complications

are multiple, including stomatitis, which adversely affects the treatment, care and health status of children.

The aim of the study was to summarize the nursing interventions for the prevention and care of chemotherapy-induced

stomatitis in children with leukemia. Methodology: Review of the literature using keywords and evaluation of all recent,

relevant published articles included in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, from 2003-2019. The results showed

that prevention of stomatitis with proper oral hygiene is crucial. Nursing assessment of stomatitis and concomitant pain

is a prerequisite for successful care. Its prevention and treatment can be done with the administration of drugs (chlorhexidine

gluconate, palifermin), with other technologies (use of lasers) and without the administration of drugs (bee

products), cryotherapy, mastic chewing, glutamine administration). Conclusions: The serious effects of chemotherapyinduced

stomatitis in children with leukemia strongly create the need to find and implement effective nursing interventions

to care it.