Conclusions
Paraquat is a caustic agent that produces corrosive injuries to the oral
mucosa and the upper gastrointestinal mucosa. The associated injury to
the mucosa is painful, and with that affects patients’ nutrition and
quality of life. To date, there is no definitive protocol for the
treatment of mucosal injuries due to paraquat ingestion, with different
hospitals and centers having different protocols. Our systematic review
analyzed and hoped to highlight the different interventions that can be
used in the management of paraquat induced oral mucositis. Our main
findings were that the main method of management was the implementation
of a multi-drug regimen, which was mainly through the use of compounded
preparations or a polydrug system. The review also highlighted the
importance of herbal and natural remedies, and that their proper use can
be beneficial in a clinical setting. The studies found were relatively
small RCT’s, further detailed research towards paraquat induced oral
mucositis should be undertaken, with the hope of finding a consensus on
the appropriate interventions and management.