Canker sores
Alternative names:
aphthous ulcer; ulcer - aphthous
Symptoms:
- a burning or tingling sensation before other symptoms develop (prodrome or warning symptom)
- skin lesion on mucous membranes of the mouth
- red spot or bump initially
- formation of open ulcer
- usually small, 1-2 mm to 1 cm
- occasionally larger than 1 cm
- single or clusters, often appear in groups (crops)
- painful
- center appears white or yellow with fibrous texture
- halo border is bright red (a red halo may not always be present)
- may have gray membrane just prior to healing
Less common symptoms (that appear at the time of the canker but may or may not be related:)
Signs and tests:
Diagnosis is based on the distinctive appearance of the lesion. If canker sores persist or recur, the health care provider or dentist should be consulted to rule out other causes of mouth ulcers, including erythema multiforme, drug allergies, acute herpes simplex infection, pemphigus, pemphigoid, bullous lichen planus, and other disorders. Squamous cell carcinoma may first appear as a mouth ulcer that does not heal, but this is rare. A relatively new ulcer-like condition is hairy leukoplakia, a condition that occurs with AIDS and one that may be mistaken for the common canker.
A skin lesion biopsy may be used to differentiate a canker sore from other causes of mouth ulcers.
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