THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF TOPICAL APPLICATIONS OF TRICHLOROACETIC ACID, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE FOR APHTHOUS ULCERS MINOR

SUMMARY: We attempted to evaluate the therapeutic effect of local application of trichloroacetic acid(TCA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) 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 (H2O2) 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 0.6:1. 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 (H2O2) 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.