Non-treatment reasons why nasopharyngeal carcinoma is prone to infection

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is mainly treated with radiotherapy. However, while radiation kills cancer cells, it also damages normal cells, causing changes in the local internal environment of the nasopharynx, significantly reducing resistance and making it more susceptible to infection. In addition to treatment factors, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients are also susceptible to infection due to the following four factors.

1. Special anatomical structure of the nasopharynx

The anatomical structure of the nasopharynx is quite special. It is hidden and complex in structure. It is connected with the mouth, nose, ears and eyes. There are many local parasitic bacteria. When the body's resistance is reduced, infection is prone to occur. Once the infection occurs, it will spread rapidly and the consequences are extremely serious.

2. Weak concept of sterility

Lack of awareness of sterility during the medical care process provides the possibility of infection. The sterilization of nasopharyngeal cancer patients' belongings is not strict, they do not wash their hands before and after operations, they do not pay attention to patient isolation, and family visits are not strictly controlled. The wards are not disinfected thoroughly, so that the oral secretions and sputum of carriers contaminate the ward environment, and the pathogens suspended in the air enter the nasopharynx and cause infection.

3. Abuse of antibiotics and hormones

Giving patients higher-level antibiotics without conducting drug sensitivity tests aggravates dysbacteriosis. In addition, long-term, high-dose use of hormones greatly reduces the body's immunity and increases the chance of infection.

4. Inadequate health education

Limited by the current medical situation, health education about nasopharyngeal carcinoma is not perfect enough. Patients and their families do not have enough knowledge about radiotherapy, and lack understanding of the role of nasopharyngeal irrigation. They do not understand the relationship between keeping the nasal cavity clean and nasopharyngeal infection, and neglect self-care for nasopharyngeal cleaning, which encourages the growth of bacteria in the nasopharynx and increases the chance of infection.