sore throat

My husband is under going chemo treatments and one of the side effects is a sore throat.Can you recommend a treatment for this?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  Chemotherapy can cause sore throat in two ways: by direct injury to the lining of the oral cavity resulting in throat ulcers, or indirectly by lowering the body's resistance to infection (lowering white cell counts), resulting in tonsillo-pharyngitis (infection of the oral cavity).  So treating the sore throat means treating the ulcers as well as the infection.  

Antibiotics can be given for the infection.  It may also be helpful to check if your husband's white cell counts are low.  Another medication (Filgrastim) may be given to increase the counts.  

There is a drug which has been proven to be effective in preventing and treating oral ulcers caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  The drug is called amifostine.  It's quite expensive though.  You can ask your husband's oncologist about it, to see if it's appropriate for him.  For symptomatic relief of pain caused by the throat ulcers, he can try sucking on ice chips.  Some types of mouthwash containing 2% lidocaine can  also provide some relief from pain.  If this is unavailable, frequent gargling with warm water containing salt (1-2 teaspoons in a glass of water) may help.

He should also avoid spicy, dry and salty and coarse food.

[auntbe]

Thank You!!!!