XEROSTOMIA

Course overview

XEROSTOMIA IS DEFINED AS "A SUBJECTIVE FEELING OF ORAL DRYNESS." THESE SYMPTOMS MIGHT PRESENT AS DRY MOUTH, DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING OR DRY ORAL MUCOSA/SKIN. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CAUSES OF XEROSTOMIA; THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS, FOLLOWED BY SJOGREN SYNDROME (SS) AND RADIOTHERAPY AND OTHER AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER. IRRESPECTIVE OF A SPECIFIC ETIOLOGY, THE PATIENT'S PRIMARY COMPLAINT IS DRY MOUTH. BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A DEBILITATING CONDITION WITHOUT ANY PARTICULAR TREATMENT, THERE ARE MAJOR PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS THAT COME INTO PLAY, RANGING FROM MILD ANXIETY TO MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE EVALUATION, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, AND TREATMENT OF XEROSTOMIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAMS TO AID IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH XEROSTOMIA.