Canker sores are more common in young adults than in children or older adults.
Symptoms:
Pain or discomfort in the mouth
Presence of open sores in the mouth
The appearance and exact location of lesions varies with the specific disorder.
Signs and tests:
A health care provider or dentist usually diagnoses the type of mouth ulcer, based on the appearance and location of the lesion. Blood tests or a skin biopsy of the ulcer may be needed to confirm the cause of the problem.
Review Date: 1/18/2007
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Internal Medicine
