[Differential diagnosis and therapy of recurrent aphthae]

The differential diagnosis of aphthous stomatitis includes several viral diseases, such as gingivostomatitis herpetica, recurrent intraoral herpes simplex, herpangina, hand-, foot-and mouth disease, as well as drug eruptions, traumatic ulcers, and aphthoid lesions in neutropenia. The therapy of aphthous stomatitis is designed to control pain, shorten the course of present lesions, and prevent the development of new lesions.