Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis in Childhood and Adolescence: A Single-Center Experience

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral ulcerative condition in children. The objective was to describe the clinical features of RAS in children with accompanying clinical and laboratory findings.

The study included 120 patients younger than 18 years of age (mean age 9.6 ± 4.3 years) with three or more oral aphthous ulcers per year between August 2008 and February 2014. Demographic characteristics of the patients, clinical features of the ulcers, and associated clinical and laboratory findings were evaluated.

The mean number of aphthae per year was 12.8 ± 8.5 and the mean duration of the disease was 3.6 ± 2.9 years. Minor aphthae were the most common type (87%), papulopustules were the most common accompanying cutaneous lesions (13.3%), and family history of RAS was the most common associated factor (35.8%). Genital scarring (p = 0.04) and pathergy (p = 0.01) were significantly more common in the adolescent group. Pathergy was significantly related to genital scarring (p = 0.04) and Behçet's disease (p = 0.02). There was no association between the number of aphthae per year and the duration of the disease and hematologic and immunologic abnormalities.

Our study is consistent with previous reports in terms of clinical features of aphthous ulcers, related diseases, and family history of RAS, but no associated laboratory abnormalities were noted.