| Summary: | Introduction: One of the most serious side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in head and neck cancer is oral mucositis or inflammation of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, causing pain and impossibility of a correct intake. Objective: To investigate the interventions that can be developed by the nursing professional to prevent and treat oral mucositis in patients treated for head and neck cancer. Method: A literature search was carried out in PubMed, CUIDEN, CINAHL, Trip, Cochrane, Medes and Epistemonikos databases. Finally, eight articles were selected in which their qualitative analysis was carried out. Results: The most relevant interventions are good oral hygiene and care, saline rinses, sodium bicarbonate, thyme honey and morphine or doxepin solutions, as well as cryotherapy, phototherapy, gabapentin as an adjuvant and Episil® rinse . The use of chlorhexidine is discouraged. Conclusions: Hygiene and oral care are important for the prevention and treatment of mucositis, helping to carry out radiotherapy or chemotherapy without interruptions. The use of mouthwashes, gabapentin, phototherapy and cryotherapy reduce pain and reduce the severity of mucositis.
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