Therapeutic effect of topical applications of trichloroacetic acid, hydrogen peroxide for aphthous ulcers minor

ABSTRACT

We attempted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of local application of trichloroacetic acid [TCA] and hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2] for aphthous ulcers minor[AUM]. Fifty four patients with aphthous ulcers minor [AUM] were enrolled in this study between January 2002 and December 2004. They were divided blindly into3 equal groups, 18 patients managed with local application of 30% trichloroacetic acid [TCA], 18 treated by local 6% hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2] and the last group by 0.9% normal saline locally also[control group], all patients were followed up after 3-7 days. Assessments by clinical examination were performed, depending on 3 criteria, tingling and pain, tenderness, and surrounding erythema. Thirty two patients = 42.5% belong to [20-29] years age group, the male to female ratio was 0.61. Commonest site of aphthous ulcers minor [AUM] was labial and buccal mucosa [14 patients = 25.9%], 38 patients =70% were non smoker, there were 3 male patients and one female affected when they quitted cigarette smoking, 19 out of 54 patients [35%] treated with the three agents went into remission. Treatment success was observed in 13 out of 18 [72.2%] patients with 30% trichloroacetic acid [TCA], whereas only 5 out of 18[28%] patients treated by local application of 6% hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2] went into remission and only one patient improved in control group [5.5%]. Based on our findings, 30% trichloroacetic acid [TCA] was a potential agent with minimal side effects for treatment of AUM