Mouth Ulcer

Question 1

What are they?

Answer 1

Painful sores in mouth - usually harmless and self limiting

And usually clear up in a week or 2

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

Infection

Trauma

Question 3

Classification

Answer 3

Minor - small oval or round

Major - larger and deeper than minor ones. They have irregular edges and can take up to six weeks to heal.

Herpetiform - irregular edges, pinpoint and occur in clusters

Question 4

Symptoms?

Answer 4

Minor apthous ulcers - white/yellow centres with outer inflamed red ring(appears on tongue, lips and cheeks)- occur in crops of one to five up to 5mm in size

Question 5

Referral

Answer 5

> 3 weeks (cancerous lesions in smokers?)
Painless (cancerous lesions)
10mm in diameter (major apthous ulcers- common in ulcerative colitis)
Crops of >5 ulcers( major apthous ulcers-large (upto 30mm) also appears on pharynx and palate. Herpetiform ulcers- also affects moth floors and gums)
Associated weight loss( cancer? iBD?)
Associated recurrent diarrhoea(IBD?)
MEDICATION ADR (NSAIDs, sulfadalzine, MTX)