Etiology and outcome of oral mucosal lesions in children on chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Microbiological cultures were taken from oral cavity and blood in 100 mucositis episodes in 70 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Oral mucositis was commonest in neutropenic children during induction chemotherapy. Fungal organisms (n=39) were commonest isolate from mucosa followed by bacteria (n=28). Isolation of organism from oral cavity had no association with those isolated from blood. Herpes serology was positive in 16% episodes compared to 2% of controls. Obtaining cultures from oral lesions is useful in appropriate management of lesions and thereby possibly preventing systemic spread.