[Herpetiform ulceration: 5 cases]

Abstract

Background: Mouth ulcers are frequently observed, mostly caused by trauma and aphthae. We report five cases of herpetiform ulceration, a rare clinical form of aphthae often mistaken for herpetic stomatitis because of the similar clinical presentation.

Case reports: All patients were men with late age at onset (44.8 years). All had numerous tiny very painful ulcers covering all parts of the oral cavity. Consequences were sometimes severe (weight loss and general weakness in two patients, requiring hospitalization in one). Diverse clinical courses were observed (from no recurrence to monthly recurrence). Systemic steroids resulted in dramatic improvement in two patients, colchicine prevented recurrences in three of them.

Discussion: These observations illustrate well this rare disease: herpetiform ulceration. We found oral corticosteroids provide effective cure and observed the preventive action of colchicine. Both findings should be confirmed in larger series.