comparison of oral and topical steroid therapy for recurrent apthous stomatitis

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to compare the efficacy of oral and topical Steroids in the treatment of Recurrent Apthous Stomatitis [RAS]. It was a quasi-experimental interventional study conducted on 60 patients of Recurrent Oral Ulcers seen in ENT Department of the Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar and Quetta, and was carried out in these hospitals from 01 August 2008 to 31 May 2010. Sixty patients, age ranging from 20 to 40 years; both genders were selected for the study purpose. The patients were included on the basis, having experienced oral ulcers at least thrice during the last one year severe enough to cause significant discomfort leading to absence from work place and remained afebrile during the ailment. Patients suffering from Hypertension, Bronchial Asthma, Glaucoma or Acid Peptic Disease were excluded. People taking medicines of any kind were not included in the study. Children, lactating mothers and pregnant females were excluded. Patients fulfilling the criteria were divided into two groups. Group I were given tablet Prednisolone [45mg] in daily divided doses for three days. Group II were prescribed topical application of Steroid[Triamcinolone acetonide] for the same duration. The day on which the treatment was started was counted as Day 1, the patients were re-examined on Day 2, 4 and 7. 91% of the patients of group I were symptom free on Day 4. Rest of the patients though not fully recovered were able to resume normal pattern of life. Only 47% of the patients of group II had comparable outcome on Day 4.On Day 7 all the patients of group I were normal while 18% of group II had some residual symptoms. Short term therapy of oral steroids brings an early and significant improvement in clinical picture of patients with RAS