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Spontaneously Regressing Neonatal Oral Aphthous Ulceration of the Palate
Sandara Wayangi Madurapperuma1, Andra Hennadige Heshan Malinga Jayaweera2, Ruwan Duminda Jayasinghe3
1Division of Oral Medicine, Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Insights
Neonatal oral aphthous ulceration, or Bednar's aphthae, presents as palate ulcers in newborns. This case highlights spontaneous healing and appropriate management to avoid unnecessary interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Neonatal Care
- Oral Pathology
Background:
- Neonatal oral aphthous ulceration, known as Bednar's aphthae, is a common condition in newborns.
- It clinically manifests as shallow, symmetrical ulcers on the posterior palate, typically resolving spontaneously within weeks.
Observation:
- A case report details a one-month-old infant girl presenting with a posterior palate ulcer and mild fever.
- Hematologic tests indicated an ongoing infection.
- Nasogastric feeding and topical glycerine were administered; antibiotic therapy continued due to fever.
Findings:
- The oral ulcer healed spontaneously within one week.
- The infant's fever subsided concurrently with lesion healing.
- The patient recovered fully without complications.
Implications:
- Bednar's aphthae, despite its alarming appearance, is often benign and self-limiting.
- Awareness of this condition can prevent diagnostic dilemmas, overinvestigation, and overtreatment in neonates.
- This case underscores the importance of recognizing Bednar's aphthae for appropriate clinical management.
Background:
Neonatal oral aphthous ulceration of the palate also known as Bednar's aphthae is not an uncommon presentation. They clinically present as spontaneously regressing, shallow, and symmetrical ulcers on the posterior palate of newborns from 2 days up to 6 weeks of age. Case Presentation. We, herein, report a case of a one-month-old baby girl who presented with an ulcer in the posterior palate and intermittent mild fever. The patient was admitted and monitored in the ward. Haematologic investigations disclosed features of ongoing infection. Nasogastric feeding was commenced to avoid any irritation of the ulcer, and glycerine was applied on the ulcer. Antibiotic therapy was continued because of the intermittent mild fever. The lesion healed spontaneously within one week, and fever subsided afterwards. Currently, the patient is faring healthily without any complications.
Conclusion:
Although Bednar's aphthae is not a rare presentation, clinicians are often met with a diagnostic dilemma due to the alarming clinical presentation of this condition. Therefore, it leads to overinvestigation and overtreatment. With this case report, we would like to highlight the importance of being aware of this condition to provide the patients with the appropriate treatment.
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