Aphthous Stomatitis

Aphthous Stomatitis – General Information

Aphthous Stomatitis – Symptoms

• The stage of the ulcers, which can be diagnosed by the intensity of the burning feelings on the mucosa
• The nature of the illness, established by the size, number and the recurrence period of the ulcers.
• The pain experienced by the patient, which can last for a couple of days.
• The medical history and the age of the patient.
• The usage of certain drugs and medication
• The cutaneous changes observed in the last weeks
• The outside factors which can interfere with the development of the disease: trauma of other organs and areas, certain allergies, microbial infections, stress.
• The infection with HIV, as this disease usually presents the development of such ulcers

In what concerns the clinical appearance of the Aphthous Stomatitis, the lesions affect the mucosa of the tongue, mouth, gingival tissue and the hard palate. In most of the cases, the ulcers which appear are expected to extend from one part of the oral system to others and cause even more lesions. These are then likely to reappear within a month and they will cause even a higher level of discomfort and pain.

Aphthous Stomatitis – Treatment

• Measure of ESR ( erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
• CBC measurement
• Potassium hydroxide investigation of the lesion
• Measurement of the folate, iron, vitamin b-12 levels
• Viral cultures, tzanck smears and skin biopsy

If your doctor also suspects the development of other diseases, then you may be advised to take one of the following tests:

• Biopsy with cultures and stains of hematoxylin-eosin
• Colonoscopy
• Culture of ulcer material in order to obtain a chain reaction to identify certain abnormalities in the structure of DNA.

Aphthous Stomatitis is usually treated using a wide range of medicines which are known for their palliative, curative and prophylactic properties. The drugs are prescribed by a specialist after a careful examination and after determining the extent and the frequency of the ulcers. The most common substances used are:

• Anti-inflammatory substances and other agents: creams, ointments, gels, pastes, rinses, sprays. These are used as a first measure for treating the disease.
• Further rinses are used in order to diminish the inflammatory effects and the bacterial problems: betadine, hydrogen peroxide, teteacycline, chlorhexide gluconate, lidocaine, and benzocaine.
• Thalidomine is used only for the patients who suffer from HIV infection.
• Vitamins are recommended for ameliorating the patient’s condition.
• The usage of sodium must be eliminated from the sufferer’s diet.

Because the Aphthous Stomatitis is a recurrent disorder, the surgical intervention has proved no effectiveness and it is not used for treating the ulcers. In what concerns the diet of the patients diagnosed with Aphthous Stomatitis, the doctors should try to find out if there are certain products witch induce allergies and oral lesions. In most of the cases, the specialists recommend an alimentary regimen with no gluten but with soft foods, like vegetables, fruits and milk products. The sufferers must also avoid eating spicy or salty foods, as well as certain products, such as pineapple and walnuts. As the studies show, there is a specific relation between smoking and the reduction of the recurrence of Aphthous Stomatitis. The appearance of this disease is certainly lower in what concerns those who smoke (no matter the type of cigarettes) than in those who had never used tobacco in their life. This is easy to explain, as there is generally known the fact that tobacco increases the level of keratinization of the mouth mucosa; this process will cause a decrease in the appearance of the ulcers. Nicotine, which is a substance easily absorbed by the mouth tissues, can prevent aphthae. If the patients who were diagnosed with this specific disorder stopped smoking, they were more exposed to the appearance of mouth ulcers. Even so, the usage of tobacco is not recommended, as there are a lot of other medicines which can be used and which are less harmful and more effective. No matter the type of treatment you may choose, you must focus on its capacity of reducing the pain, the inflammation and preventing the reappearance of ulcers.