Oral Candidiasis
Look For
- Creamy white lesions present on the tongue or inner cheeks, which may be associated with angular cheilitis or glossitis.
Significance
- Infection with Candida species.
Risk Factors
- Dry mouth
- Inhaled steroids
- Immunosuppression
- Antibiotic use
- Smoking
- Diabetes
Mouth Ulcers
Look For
- Ulcers in the mouth, noting their number, size, colour and distribution.
Significance
- May be an indicator of leukaemia or bacterial infection secondary to agranulocytosis.
Causes of Mouth Ulcers
- Trauma - mechanical / chemical / radiation
- Aphthous stomatitis
- Dermatoses - pemphigus, lichen planus, erythema multiforme
- Infection - herpes simplex (cold sore), varicella zoster, coxsackie (hand, foot and mouth), syphilis, bacterial, candidiasis
- Rheumatological - SLE, Reiter's syndrome
- GIT - Crohn's, coeliac disease
- Drugs - antineoplastics
- Malignancy - especially leukaemia
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