JCDA Jan 2014 | Page 45

J Can Dent Assoc 2014;80:e9 jcda ca ESSENTIAL DENTAL KNOWLEDGE Published by The Canadian Dental Association • Hand-foot-and-mouth disease • Varicella • Measles Chronic Ulcerative and Vesiculobullous Conditions • • • • • • Recurrent aphthous stomatitis Juvenile bullous pemphigoid Childhood linear IgA disease Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa Juvenile dermatitis herpetiform Riga–Fede disease jadc DES CONNAISSANCES DENTAIRES INDISPENSABLES Publié par l’Association dentaire canadienne Associated with Systemic Conditions • • • • Congenital neutropenia Autoimmune disorders (e.g., lupus erythematosus, Crohn disease) Behçet syndrome PFAPA syndrome, a clinical disorder characterized by periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis. • Metabolic deficiency diseases • HIV/AIDS Treatment Common Initial Treatments • Palliative treatment: – Monitor nutritional intake and ensure adequate hydration. – Manage fever with over-the-counter antipyretics (i.e. acetaminophen). – Consider use of antimicrobial mouthwash to prevent secondary infection of ulcers (if the patient can swish and spit). • If you can confirm a specific diagnosis for the oral ulcers, consider treatment with appropriate medications, such as antibiotics, antiviral agents and topical corticosteroids, within your scope of expertise. • If the patient appears to be significantly dehydrated, lethargic or demonstrates signs of failure-tothrive, refer the patient to an acute care facility for urgent evaluation. • The patient should be clinically re-evaluated 2 weeks after initial presentation. Alternate Treatments • If a systemic condition is suspected as the cause of oral ulcers, the patient should be referred to his/her primary care physician and/or pediatrician for further evaluation and management. • Consider referring patients with organ-specific ulcers to medical subspecialists (i.e.,  dermatologist, gastroenterologist, otorhinolaryngologist) for evaluation and management, if necessary. • • • • Advice Provide supportive advice to the patient and family. Encourage frequent hydration and nutritional intake. Monitor for resolution of oral lesions and/or systemic symptoms. If the patient appears to be significantly dehydrated, weak and/or demonstrates signs of failureto-thrive, the patient should be taken to the family physician or an acute care facility for urgent evaluation. • If the ulcers have not resolved in more than 2  weeks, refer the patient to his/her family physician, pediatrician and/or oral medicine specialist for further evaluation and management. jcda ca | 2014 | Vol. 80, No. 1 | ESSENTIAL DENTAL KNOWLEDGE Published by The Canadian Dental Association jcdaf ca • 45 •