Recurrent aphthous stomatitis and stress situation as risk factors

Abstract

Aphthous stomatitis, also called buccal aphthosis or aphthae, is characterized by the emergence of one or more painful ulcers with lose of the epithelial continuity, varied in form, number and size. It is considered the most frequent buccal mucosa disease, being in the second place, and it is more frequent in children and teenagers; this disease’s occurrence is considered high, amounting between 5 and 60 %, with a 20 % media. Many patients showing symptoms and signs of this disease assist to the emergency service consultation of the University Polyclinic "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay", in Colon; the aim of this study was determining in what level stress situation affected patients assisting this consultation with recurrent aphthous stomatitis. The sample was formed by 119 patients having the clinical presence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. 81 of them were female, for 68,1 %; the most represented age group was the one formed by 61 individuals aged 15-24 years, with 51,3 %; from the clinical point of view the less form was the most observed one. In most of the cases, stress situation were present. We arrived to the conclusion that most of the attended persons showed stress characteristics. The most represented way of affronting stress was looking for social support and patients are vulnerable to stress situations.