What is recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)? Is it appropriate to regard it as an infectious disease? Are there effective measures for managing aphthous ulcers? These are just a few of the questions that are continually asked about this benign but highly symptomatic oral problem.Although it is one of the most common recurrent oral ulcerative conditions of adults and children recognized throughout the world, RAS is also one of the least understood oral diseases and is among the most vexing problems faced by affected patients and clinicians alike [1]. The triggering factors that precipitate recurrent episodes in RAS patients seem to be as diverse and unique as the affected individuals themselves [2], which has posed a challenge for scientists in their attempts to identify a specific causation for this disease. Although the origin of RAS remains obscure, there is growing lucidity with regard to its pathogenesis, and that enlightenment has influenced contemporary approaches to its management significantly [3].
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