Oral complications associated with immunosuppression and cancer therapies

Manifestations of oropharyngeal infection in immunocompromised patients cha llenge medical and dental professionals because clinical signs and symptoms may be minimal, and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment may be di fficult. Effective infection control and management of oral symptoms may be achieved by the judicious use of topical and systemic agents and by mainta ining good oral hygiene. Prevention of mucosal breakdown, suppression of mi crobial colonization, control of viral reactivation, and effective manageme nt of severe xerostomia are all critical steps to reducing the overall morb idity and mortality of oro-mucosal infections.