[Prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis in a family medical office, Manzanillo, Cuban. A cross-sectional study].

Introduction: Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, also known as aphthous ulcers or simply aphthous, is considered the most common of oral mucosal lesions.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional and prospective study. 847 patients who attended the Family Medical Office No. 28, San Francisco comunity, Manzanillo, from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, Cuba, were evaluated. A calibrated and trained assistant investigator evaluated the following variables: Clinical classification of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (minor aphthosis, major aphthosis, or aphthosis herpetiformis), lesion pain intensity, lesion location, and risk factors (viral infection), bacterial infection, immunological alterations, psychosomatic alterations, oral trauma, gastrointestinal alterations, endocrine factors, allergic conditions, heredity, blood and nutritional deficiencies, smoking), age group, sex, race, and duration of the lesion.

Results: Aphthous stomatitis occurred in 30.46%, with greater frequency in the age group 30 - 39 years (24.42%). Minor aphthosis was the most frequent with 91.09%. The duration of the lesion of 10 to 12 days predominated with 37.60%, the most frequent location corresponded to the edge and tip of the tongue with 32.94% and the most representative pain intensity was mild with a total of 63.18%. The highest frequency among the risk factors corresponded to psychosomatic alterations with 100%.

Conclusions: Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis had a prevalence greater than 30% with a predominance of the female sex and young adults. Minor Aphtosis and a stay time of more than 10 days were the most frequent. The most common location is the tongue and bottom of the vestibular sulcus with the possible existence of a relationship between the mobile parts of the mouth. Stress, the main risk factor, exacerbated by Covid-19.