Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), commonly called “canker sores,” is a perplexing oral condition characterized by the recurrent development of painful aphthous ulcers on non-keratinized oral mucous membranes. This condition poses a significant challenge to patients and healthcare professionals due to its uncertain etiology. Patients often report a family history of RAS, suggesting a genetic predisposition. Factors such as local trauma, stress, smoking cessation, anemia, and hematinic deficiency have also been linked to the occurrence of RAS. Gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and malabsorption diseases, including celiac disease, are associated with the development of oral aphthous ulcers. RAS is a possible clinical manifestation of more severe conditions like Behçet’s disease or HIV infection, making early diagnosis and management critical. This activity offers a comprehensive review of the evaluation and treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, providing healthcare professionals with the latest insights into this enigmatic condition. Participants will explore the diagnostic process, which relies on a thorough medical history and clinical findings. The program also delves into the various treatment modalities for RAS, emphasizing topical corticosteroids as the first-line approach and systemic steroids for more severe cases. Additionally, the use of immunosuppressants to prevent the formation of new RAS lesions and reduce the adverse effects associated with systemic steroids will be discussed. By participating in this activity, healthcare providers will gain a deeper understanding of RAS and its management, allowing them to provide more effective care for patients afflicted with this challenging condition.
Credit & MOC Details
Credit information is provided by the course provider. We recommend confirming credit eligibility with the provider or your licensing board before starting the activity.
Credit types
MOC types
FDA REMS
Qualifies for MIPS
Target Specialties
Relevant across 8 specialties.
Specialties served/covered
- Addiction Medicine
- Adolescent Medicine
- Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology
- Allergy & Clinical Immunology
- Anatomic & Clinical Pathology
- Blood Banking & Transfusion Medicine
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation
- Breast Imaging
- Cardiac Anesthesia
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Chemical Pathology
- Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Clinical Informatics
- Critical Care Medicine
- Cytopathology
- Dermatopathology
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
- Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Foot & Ankle Surgery
- Forensic Pathology
- Gastroenterology
- General Internal Medicine
- General Operative Anesthesia
- General Otolaryngology
- General Pediatrics
- General Surgery
- Geriatric Medicine
- Head & Neck Surgery
- Hematology
- Hematopathology
- Hospice & Palliative Medicine
- Hospital Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Interventional Radiology
- Laryngology
- Medical Leadership & Administration
- Medical Microbiology
- Medical Oncology
- Medical Toxicology
- Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
- Molecular Genetic Pathology
- Musculoskeletal Oncology
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neuro Anesthesia
- Neurocritical Care
- Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
- Neurological & Spinal Cord Injury Rehab
- Neuromuscular Medicine
- Neuropathology
- Neuroradiology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Obstetric Anesthesia
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Orthopaedic Trauma
- Otology & Neurotology
- Pain Medicine
- Patient Safety & Quality Improvement
- Pediatric Anesthesia
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Neurology
- Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Pathology
- Pediatric Radiology
- Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pediatric Transplant Hepatology
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Practice Management & Ethics
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Pulmonary Disease
- Regional Anesthesia & Acute Pain
- Rheumatology
- Rhinology
- Shoulder & Elbow Surgery
- Sleep Medicine
- Spine Surgery
- Surgery of the Hand & Upper Extremity
- Surgical Critical Care
- Surgical Oncology
- Thoracic Anesthesia
- Thoracic Surgery
- Transplant Hepatology
- Transplant Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Urology
- Vascular Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
- Anesthesiology
- Cardio-Vascular
- Cross-Specialty
- Emergency & Critical Care
- ENT & Head Neck
- GI & Liver
- Infectious Disease
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Subspecialties
- Neurology
- Ob/Gyn
- Oncology & Hematology
- Orthopedics
- Pain & Palliative
- Pathology & Lab
- Pediatrics
- Primary care
- Radiology
- Rehabilitation
- Sports & Exercise Medicine
- Surgery
- Urology
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