Depressive symptoms and oral mucositis in children with oncological diseases: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between depressive symptoms and the occurrence of oral mucositis in children with oncological diseases treated at a reference hospital. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with individuals aged 4 to 18 years, diagnosed with primary neoplasms. Data was collected by using a questionnaire that assessed the degree of oral mucositis according to the World Health Organization index, the risk of oral mucositis according to the Child's International Mucositis Evaluation Scale, and depressive symptoms using the Children's Depression Inventory. The data were analyzed and subjected to Spearman's correlation, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test, considering p<0.05. A statistically significant correlation was observed between depressive symptoms and the degree of oral mucositis (p = 0.044), and also between the "pain" variable within the risk of oral mucositis and depressive symptoms (p = 0.021). Based on the findings, it can be inferred that oral mucositis may be associated with the development of depressive symptoms and may be influenced by the individual's hospitalization, thereby affecting the quality of life of pediatric patients.

Oral and tracheal microbiota of pediatric and adolescent patients in an intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the oral and tracheal microbiota of patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS AND RESULTS: This is an exploratory study conducted on patients aged 5 months to 13 years admitted to the PICU of a referral hospital. Two microbiological samples were collected with a swab in the posterior region of the tongue from patients receiving spontaneous and mechanical ventilation within the first 24 and 48 h after admission to the PICU. Among patients receiving mechanical ventilation, tracheal secretion was also collected in a second sampling. The caries experience was evaluated using the DMFT/dmf index, and the quality of oral hygiene was assessed based on the visual plaque index (VPI). A questionnaire was applied to obtain data on hospital routine and sample characteristics. The DMFT/dmf index was 1.66 (SD = 2.18) and the mean VPI was 43.03 (SD = 36.93). The most prevalent microorganisms were Klebsiella pneumoniae (15%). Oral colonization by opportunistic pathogens was significantly higher in patients receiving mechanical ventilation compared to those on spontaneous ventilation (p < .05). There was no relationship of VPI or DMFT/dmf with oral microbiological changes. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that PICU patients are susceptible to colonization by respiratory and opportunistic pathogens since the first hours of hospitalization.