Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Examination of Oral Candida Infection in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
A prospective study of the oral manifestations of Crohn's disease
Sinead Harty1, Padraig Fleming, Marion Rowland
1Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Paediatrics, University College Dublin, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland.
Background & Aims:
Recent studies suggest that the mouth may be involved frequently in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to document prospectively the proportion of children with oral lesions at diagnosis of CD, to describe the type of lesions found, and to examine the ability of gastroenterologists to identify correctly oral Crohn's manifestations.
Methods:
In a prospective 3-year study, systematic dental examinations were performed on all children with suspected inflammatory bowel disease. Each child underwent upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, and barium follow-through radiography.
Results:
Forty-eight of 49 children with CD were examined by the dentist. Oral CD was found in 20 patients (41.7%). Oral findings included mucogingivitis (12 patients), mucosal tags (4 patients), deep ulceration (4 patients), cobblestoning (3 patients), lip swelling (3 patients), and pyostomatitis vegetans (1 patient). Noncaseating granulomas were found in all 8 oral biopsy specimens from oral CD lesions (100%). Two patients with granulomas in oral biopsy specimens had no granulomas found in any other biopsy specimens. The presence of oral manifestations was associated with perianal disease. In only 9 patients (45%) with oral CD was the mouth found to be abnormal by the consultant gastroenterologists. Only nonspecific oral changes were seen in children with ulcerative colitis and indeterminate colitis.
Conclusions:
More than one third of all children presenting with CD had involvement of the mouth. The ability of physicians to recognize oral lesions was poor. Expert dental evaluation may be useful during the investigation of patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:28Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
01:25Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Complications