Aphthae (overview) K12.0

Rapidly developing, solitary or multiple, painful, 0.2-0.5 cm, inflammatory, low-elevation mucosal infiltrates with central fibrin-covered erosion (rarely ulceration) and erythematous rim.

A distinction is made between:

• Solitary aphthae
• Habitual aphthae (minor type, major type, herpetiform type)
• Bednar's aphthae
• Fede-Riga's aphthae
• Aphthae in tropical sprue
• Aphthae in Behçet's disease
• Aphthae in the context of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis
• Aphthous changes in the context of infections with the herpes simplex virus ( gingivostomatitis herpetica, stomatitis aphthosa, aphthoid Pospischill-Feyrter)
• Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (mucosal changes in the context of gluten sensitivity - see also coeliac disease)

Symptomatic of various underlying diseases, but usually an expression of recurrent benign aphthosis (so-called habitual aphthae).

Flat, as if punched out, circular or oval, trough-shaped, very painful, superficial erosions or ulcerations of the oral mucosa surrounded by an inflammatory, edematous red border. They are covered by yellowish to greyish-white fibrin coatings which cannot be stripped off. Less frequently they affect the genital mucosa.