Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis

Excerpt

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a chronic oral mucosa inflammatory disorder with an uncertain etiology. Diagnosis is based on medical history and clinical findings. There seems to be a genetic predisposition to the condition, as up to 46% of patients report a family history of RAS. Certain factors predispose to RAS, including local trauma, stress, smoking cessation, anemia, and hematinic deficiency. Gastrointestinal conditions such as Chron disease, ulcerative colitis, and malabsorption diseases like celiac disease are also linked to the development of oral aphthous ulcers. Furthermore, RAS characterizes Behçet disease, and atypically severe RAS presentation may be a sign of HIV infection. Topical corticosteroids are the first line of treatment for managing RAS. A short course of systemic steroids is reserved for more severe cases. Immunosuppressants are sometimes indicated to prevent the formation of new RAS lesions and decrease the prevalence of adverse effects experienced with systemic steroids.