ASSESSMENT OF ORO-DENTAL HEALTH PARAMETERS, FUNGAL INFECTION AND THE SEVERITY OF CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED - ORAL...

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of Oro-dental health parameters and fungal infection with the severity of oral mucositis (OM) in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

This cross-sectional study was carried out among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at a tertiary institution in south western Nigeria. Oral pain, oral hygiene status, periodontitis, gingivitis and fungal infection and their relationship with OM were investigated.

Among 82 patients that were assessed, OM was present in 44 (53.66%) participants. Oral pain was present in 47 (57.32%) participants and 42 (95.45%) of those with OM (p <0.001). Periodontitis was present in 9(20.25%;p=0.947), severe gingivitis in 3 (6.82%; p =0.067) and poor oral hygiene in 6(13.64%; p =0.214) participants with OM. Severe OM (Grades 3 and 4) was present in 5 (6.09%) participants. All participants with severe OM had severe pain (pd" 0.001). In patients with severe mucositis, periodontitis was present in 2 (p =0.750), while severe gingivitis was observed in 1 (p =0.359) participant. Four out of the five participants with severe mucositis had poor oral hygiene (p =0.004). Fungal infection was present in 45(54.88%) participants and 31 (70.45%) of those with OM (p =0.002). Ordered logistic regression also showed that fungal infection was associated with a fourfold risk of increased severity of OM (OR 3.9, CI 1.57, 9.87,p = 0.004).

Our study showed that increased severity of OM was associated with a higher grade of pain and poor oral hygiene. Fungal infection was associated with increased prevalence and a fourfold risk of increased severity of OM.