Mouth ulcers

Introduction to oral ulcers Oral ulcers, also known as "mouth sores", are superficial ulcers that occur on the oral mucosa. They can vary in size from rice to soybeans, round or oval, ulcers are concave, and the surrounding is congested. Food causes pain and usually heals itself in one to two weeks. Causes of oral ulcers may be local trauma, mental stress, changes in food, drugs, hormone levels, and vitamin or trace element deficiency. Systemic diseases, genetics, immunity and microorganisms may play an important role in the occurrence and development of oral ulcers. Oral ulcers are largely related to personal physical fitness, so it is unlikely to be completely avoided, but if the predisposing factors are avoided as much as possible, the incidence can be reduced. basic knowledge The proportion of illness: 1% Susceptible people: no specific population Mode of infection: non-infectious Complications: bad breath thrush

Cause of oral ulcer

Digestive diseases (15%):

Patients with systemic diseases are prone to oral ulcers, mainly by affecting the immune system. Oral ulcers are associated with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, ulcerative colitis, localized enteritis, hepatitis, and the like. Studies have shown that 30% to 48% of patients with oral ulcers have digestive tract diseases such as bloating, diarrhea or constipation. More than 9% of them have digestive ulcers.

Nutritional factors (25%):

Such as the lack of trace elements of zinc, iron, lack of folic acid, vitamin B12 and malnutrition, etc., can reduce immune function and increase the possibility of recurrent oral ulcers.

Infection factor (13%):

It has been suggested that streptococcus and several viruses play a role in the pathogenesis of recurrent oral ulcers.

Genetic factors (10%):

If both parents have recurrent oral ulcers, about 80-90% of their children are sick. If one of the parents suffers from the disease, about 50-60% of their children are sick.

Oral ulcer prevention

Oral ulcers are largely related to personal physical fitness, so it is unlikely to be completely avoided, but if the predisposing factors are avoided as much as possible, the incidence can be reduced.

The specific measures are:

1, pay attention to oral hygiene, to avoid damage to the oral mucosa, to avoid spicy food and local irritation.

2, to maintain a comfortable, optimistic and cheerful, to avoid things and anxious.

3. Ensure adequate sleep time and avoid excessive fatigue.

4, pay attention to the regularity of life and nutritional balance, develop a certain bowel habit, prevent constipation.

Oral ulcer complications Complications, bad breath, thrush

Can be complicated by bad breath, chronic pharyngitis, constipation, headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, irritability, fever, swollen lymph nodes and other systemic symptoms.

Oral ulcer symptoms Common symptoms Persistent pain, papules, herpes, stomatitis, pustules, tongue ulcers, mucosal congestion, salty, severe pain, eating too hard food...

1. Light aphthous ulcer: Occasionally in the area of poor oral keratosis, the ulcer is round or oval, the size and number are different, scattered, the edges are neat, surrounded by redness, pain, self-limiting and recurrence history , no scars after the healing.

2. Herpes-like aphthous ulcers: The ulcers are small and the number can be more than 20, the distribution is wider, there is no clustering and fusion phenomenon, the patient has pain and accompanied by headache, low fever and other systemic symptoms, leaving no scar after the recovery.

3. Glandular aphthous ulcer: It occurs in the mucous membrane on the inner side of the lip and in the mouth area. The ulcer occurs more often, and it is large and deep. It is in the shape of crater. The edge is raised, the bottom is uneven and hard, the course is long, and the scar can be left behind.

4. Behcet's syndrome: If there are mouth, eyes and genitals, skin damage, then combined with other system damage analysis and diagnosis.

Examination of oral ulcers

Simple oral ulcers can be diagnosed by oral examination; if the duration of oral ulcers is long or the accompanying symptoms of other diseases, the primary disease should also be examined. In the case of non-specific inflammation, severe vascular and inflammatory reactions occur initially. After ulceration, the surface is covered with a fibrous pseudomembrane, a small amount of necrotic tissue is underneath, a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrate in the lamina propria, collagen fibers can be edematous, and glassy. The change or rupture disappeared, and the lesions of the periorbital ulcer were the same as the above basic changes, but the range was large and deep, and the salivary gland acinus was destroyed, the duct was dilated, and the epithelial hyperplasia.

The disease occurs in women between the ages of 20 and 45. The ratio of male to female is about 2:3. According to relevant statistics, the incidence rate is less than 10%, mostly in areas with poor keratinization or keratosis of the oral mucosa. Such as the inside of the lips, the tip of the tongue, the tongue, the tongue, the cheeks, the soft palate, the vestibular groove and other mucosa.

Diagnosis and identification of oral ulcer

First, the ulcer healing time is distinguished. Benign oral ulcers can heal in a few days to several weeks, while malignant oral ulcers develop progressively, and do not heal for months or even years;

Secondly, it can be differentiated. The general shape of benign oral ulcers is relatively regular, round, elliptical or linear. The edges are neat and clear. The boundary with the surrounding tissues is clear. The base of the depression is smoother, soft to the touch, and the pain is obvious. The malignant oral ulcers The shape is irregular, the boundary is unclear, the edge bulge is uneven, the bottom of the ulcer is uneven, granular, and the texture is hard and tough, which is obviously different from the normal mucosa, and the ulcer pain is not obvious;

The third can be distinguished by the course of the disease. Benign oral ulcers often occur repeatedly, with self-limiting, malignant oral ulcers without a history of recurrence. Once the disease occurs, it will not heal;

The fourth can be different from the general condition. The systemic symptoms of benign oral ulcers are rare. The cervical lymph nodes are not swollen or swollen but not hard and non-adhesive. The malignant oral ulcers are reversed, and some even have cachexia. Finally, they can be sensitive to drugs. Judging that benign oral ulcers generally use anti-inflammatory and anti-corrosive drugs, the effect is obvious, and healing is accelerated, while malignant oral ulcers are often "irregular" to the drug, and the curative effect is not obvious.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.