Common complaints are of food tasting too sweet or too bitter or of a continuous metallic taste. Complications
Sores or ulcerations can become infected by virus, bacteria or fungus. Pain and loss of taste perception makes it more difficult to eat, which leads to weight loss. Ulcers may act as a site for local infection and a portal of entry for oral flora that, in some instances, may cause septicaemia (especially in immunosuppressed patients). Therefore, oral mucositis can be a dose-limiting condition, disrupting a patient’s optimal cancer treatment plan and consequentially decreasing their chances of survival. Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of mucositis is complex and multifactorial. Currently, Sonis five phase model is the accepted explanation for the process. The 5 stages are:

Initiation phase. Free radicals are produced due to DNA damage caused by chemo- or radiotherapy. Primary damage response. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and free radicals all contribute to the activation of transcription factors, such as NF-κB. This results in the upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, ceramide, nitric oxide and matrix metalloproteinases. The consequence of this is mucosal destruction, caused by thinning of the epithelium due to tissue injury and cell death. Signal amplification. Positive or negative feedback loops involving some of the molecules in the previous phase can exacerbate or prolong tissue injury. For example, the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α can positively feedback on NF-κB thus inducing more pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Ulceration. Bacteria colonise ulcers and their cell wall products infiltrate the submucosa. This leads to activation of tissue macrophages, which causes further production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Tracheal intubation is required in these situations to prevent respiratory arrest and risk of death.Sometimes, the cause is recent exposure to an allergen (e.g. peanuts), but more often it is either idiopathic (unknown) or only weakly correlated to allergen exposure.In hereditary angioedema (HAE), often no direct cause is identifiable, although mild trauma, including dental work and other stimuli, can cause attacks. There is usually no associated itch or urticaria, as it is not an allergic response. Patients with HAE can also have recurrent episodes (often called "attacks") of abdominal pain, usually accompanied by intense vomiting, weakness, and in some cases, watery diarrhea, and an unraised, nonitchy splotchy/swirly rash. These stomach attacks can last one to five days on average and can require hospitalization for aggressive pain management and hydration. Abdominal attacks have also been known to cause a significant increase in the patients white blood cell count, usually in the vicinity of 13,000 to 30,000. As the symptoms begin to diminish, the white count slowly begins to decrease, returning to normal when the attack subsides. As the symptoms and diagnostic tests are almost indistinguishable from an acute abdomen (e.g. perforated appendicitis) it is possible for undiagnosed HAE patients to undergo laparotomy (operations on the abdomen) or laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) that turns out to have been unnecessary.HAE may also cause swelling in a variety of other locations, most commonly the limbs, genitals, neck, throat and face. The pain associated with these swellings varies from mildly uncomfortable to agonizing pain, depending on its location and severity.