Side effects of systemic cancer therapy - mucositis
Red flags
- Mucositis + fever in a neutropenic patient -> neutropenic sepsis pathway (mucosal breach is a major bacteraemia entry point)
- Inability to swallow saliva/secretions, stridor -> airway risk, urgent assessment
- Signs of candidal or HSV superinfection on mucositis (white plaques, punched-out ulcers) -> treat concurrently, do not assume all pain is "just mucositis"
- Severe dehydration/inability to maintain oral intake -> IV fluids/nutrition support needed
- Diarrhoea with abdominal pain post-chemotherapy -> GI mucositis with possible neutropenic enterocolitis (typhlitis) if neutropenic
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