Aphthous ulcers

doi:10.1136/bmj.b2382

Published 24 July 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b2382
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b2382

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10-Minute Consultation

Aphthous ulcers

Erik W M A Bischoff, general practitioner , Annemarie Uijen, general practitioner , Mark van der Wel, general practitioner

¹ Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Correspondence to: E Bischoff e.bischoff@elg.umcn.nl

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A 25 year old man presents with oral ulcerations that causehim great discomfort. He explains that these ulcers recurredseveral times last year, but that the current presentation isfar more painful. He asks for your advice on treatment and preventionof these burning sores.

Aphthous ulcers (aphthae or canker sores) are painful solitaryor multiple erosions of the oral mucous membrane. Aphthous ulceris the most common condition of the oral mucosa in developedcountries, affecting around 20% of the general population, mostlyyoung adults. Diagnosis is based on history and examination(see box).

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Fig 1 Minor aphthous ulcer of the tongue

Inacute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (mixed bacterial infection),ulcerations are seen in combination with strong halitosis andgingivitis. Antibiotics are indicated

Infection with HIV causeslarge lesions that heal very slowly

Squamous cell carcinomapresents with a solitary persistent ulcer that lasts for morethan two . . . [Full text of this article]

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