Aphthous stomatitis

Abstract

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) or recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU) are painful oral ulcerations that characteristically recur at intervals ranging from days to months or even years. They represent the most common lesion of the oral mucosa with an overall prevalence, ranging from 15 to 30 %. Females are more commonly affected than males and although they may begin at any age, they usually start during the second and third decades of life. Familial occurrence is common and about 30-40 % of the patients with RAS have another affected family member.