Abstract:

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a painful disorder of unknown etiology. It is among the most common oral mucosal lesions with high prevalence among young adults.

Objectives:

To conduct a population-based study with 18-year-old army recruiters to assess its prevalence and associated factors in male adolescents.

Methods:

Interview during clinical examination in the army.

Results:

In this group (2,427 interviewed adolescents) there was a RAS prevalence of 24.9%. Smoking, herpes labialis and socioeconomic status correlated with the outcome.

Study Limitations:

only male adolescents were interviewed.

Conclusions:

Our results showed high prevalence of RAS; association with higher economic level and herpes simplex was found. Protective effect of smoking was confirmed.