Case 3: Aphthous Stomatitis

Question | Discussion | References | CME Credit

You answered:

	Cytomegalovirus infection has been identified as the cause of aphthous stomatitis.

This answer is incorrect. The cause of aphthous stomatitis remains unknown and there is no evidence that cytomegalovirus plays a major role, though cytomegalovirus infection can cause oral ulcers that resemble aphthous stomatitis. Investigators have proposed a number of factors that may contribute to this disorder, including overstimulation of tumor necrosis factor, immune cross-reactivity to infectious agents, nutritional deficiencies, stress, hormonal imbalance, food hypersensitivity, and genetic predisposition.

Choose another answer:

	Thalidomide (Thalomid) is an effective therapy for aphthous stomatitis.
	The diagnosis of aphthous stomatitis is best made by performing a Gram’s stain and observing multiple gram-positive rods lining the surface of mucosal cells.
	Oral valganciclovir (Valcyte) is an effective therapy for aphthous stomatitis, providing an approximate 85% clinical response rate.

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