Context

Recurrent aphthous ulceration or stomatitis (RAS) is a common condition characterised by painful recurring oral ulcers, typically commencing in childhood. These ulcers classically present as round or oval lesions, and have a yellow or grey base and a surrounding erythematous inflammatory halo. Although ‘aphthous-like ulcers’ can be associated with a number of systemic diseases, ‘recurrent aphthous ulceration’ is a term that should strictly be reserved for recurring ulcers arising in the absence of associated systemic disease.1 The lifetime prevalence of RAS has been estimated at 36.5%2 and approximately 80% of all are recurring minor type aphthae,1 rather than major or herpetiform type, the other described aphthous …