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

TL;DR

This study explores the link between depressive symptoms and oral mucositis in children with cancer, finding a significant correlation.

Contribution

The novel contribution is identifying a statistical association between depressive symptoms and oral mucositis severity in pediatric oncology patients.

Findings

Depressive symptoms correlated with the degree of oral mucositis (p = 0.044).

Pain from oral mucositis was linked to depressive symptoms (p = 0.021).

Oral mucositis may influence depressive symptoms and quality of life in hospitalized children.

Abstract

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.

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