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.