Differential Diagnosis of Mouth Ulcers

Aphthous ulcer (i.e. canker sore or ulcerative stomatitis)
Herpes simplex
Oral candidiasis
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (Coxsackievirus)
Herpangina (Coxsackievirus)
Acute HIV infection
Chickenpox (Varicella Zoster)
Syphilis
Parvovirus (fifth disease)
Squamous cell carcinoma
Trauma
Drug reaction
Behcet’s disease
Erythema multiforme
Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Lichen planus
Pemphigus,
Bullous pemphigoid
Reactive arthritis
Necrotizing ulcerative gingivostomatitis (Vincent’s fusospirochetal disease)
Inflammatory bowel disease
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Thinking about the differential diagnosis
The differential diagnosis above can be categorized into Infectious, Neoplastic, Trauma, Drugs, Autoimmune

Further Reading
Am Fam Physician. 2007 Feb 15;75(4):501-506. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0215/p501.html
Am Fam Physician. 2007 Feb 15;75(4):509-512. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0215/p509.html

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