Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most common clinical disease of the oral mucosa. Its prevalence in the general population varies between 5 and 25%, with its peak appearance in the second decade of life. So far, the etiopathogenesis is not clear. In genetically predisposed patients, the effect of certain triggering factors would initiate the proinflammatory cytokine cascade directed against certain regions of the oral mucosa. Ulcers are round or oval with well-defined erythematous margins and a shallow ulcerated center covered with a gray or yellowish fibrinous pseudomembrane. The ulcers may reappear at intervals of a few days and months. Given the appearance of periodic thrush in the oral mucosa, the first thing to do is to make a correct differential diagnosis, rule out associated systemic diseases and assess treatable causes before reaching the diagnosis of RAS. At present, there is no curative treatment.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) affects approximately 20% of the general population. Its etiology is still unknown.
To analyze this entity\'s clinical features.
Data such as age, gender, family history of RAS, age at first episode onset, prodromal symptoms, number, size, morphology and localization of lesions, RAS clinical form, annual rate of recurrence, predisposing factors, symptoms and time for symptoms and lesions disappearance were assessed in 200 patients with RAS.
Patients had RAS minor forms. Main clinical characteristics were family history of RAS (89%), first episode at ≥ 10 years of age (69%), prodromal symptoms (66%), one lesion per episode (63%), < 0.5 cm lesions (64%), rounded morphology (55%), localization at the tongue (27%), 3 recurrent episodes per year (36%), stress as predisposing factor (34%), symptom disappearance in 2 days (54%) and healing of lesions in 8 days (40%).
Even when RAS is a common disorder of the oral mucosa, there is no curative treatment available. Therapeutic measures seek to reduce the pain and size of lesions, accelerate the time of recovery and decrease the rate of relapses.
La estomatitis aftosa recurrente (EAR) afecta aproximadamente a 20 % de la población general. Su etiología aún se desconoce.
Analizar las características clínicas de esta entidad.
En 200 pacientes con EAR se analizó edad, sexo, historia familiar de EAR, edad de aparición del primer episodio, síntomas prodrómicos, número, tamaño, morfología y localización de las lesiones, forma clínica de EAR, tasa anual de recurrencia, factores predisponentes, sintomatología, tiempo de desaparición de los síntomas y las lesiones.
Los pacientes tenían formas menores de EAR. Las principales características clínicas fueron historia familiar de EAR (89 %), primer episodio con ≥ 10 años de edad (69 %), síntomas prodrómicos (66 %), lesión por episodio (63 %), lesiones de < 0.5 cm (64 %), morfología redondeada (55 %), localización en lengua (27 %), tres episodios recurrentes anuales (36 %), estrés predisponente (34 %), desaparición de síntomas a los dos días (54 %) y curación de lesiones a los ocho días (40 %).
Aun cuando la EAR es un trastorno común de la mucosa bucal, no se dispone de un tratamiento curativo. Las medidas terapéuticas buscan reducir el dolor y tamaño de las lesiones, acelerar el periodo de recuperación y disminuir la recidiva.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the high prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), its etiology is not yet completely clear and there is no completely remedial treatment available at present. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of 4 treatments (silver nitrate, propolis, rhubarb and walnut) for RAS.
METHODS: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 125 patients with minor aphthae, including 25 patients per group: cauterization with silver nitrate, propolis, rhubarb extract, walnut extract and placebo.
CONCLUSIONS: No patient reported adverse effects related to the treatment received. There were significant (P<.001) differences in the time elapsed until symptom resolution. The fastest treatment was silver nitrate (1.16 days), followed by the 3 alternative treatments (1.60 days with propolis, 1.84 with rhubarb and 2.00 with walnut; with no differences between them), and finally the placebo (4.64 days). The mean healing time of the lesions was statistically higher (8.96 days) for the placebo than for the 4 treatments: silver nitrate (7.32 days), propolis (6.80), rhubarb (7.72) and walnut (8.00).