Stomatitis physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [2], Usama Talib, BSc, MD [3]

A thorough history and physical exam are a necessary for a detailed understanding and diagnosis of stomatitis. The diagnosis of stomatitis is mostly clinical. The location and features of the ulcers or vesicles are also important findings in this regard.

A comprehensive physical exam has great significance in the diagnosis of stomatitis. The exam findings may include:^[1]

• No distress
• Halitosis

• Normal blood pressure
• Fever (in case of infectious stomatitis)

• S1: normal
• S2: normal
• Tachycardia (secondary to infection)

• Neck tenderness
• Palpable lymph nodes
• Vesicles or ulcers on the tongue
• Vesicles or ulcers on the soft or the hard palate
• Whitish areas on the buccal mucosa
• Oral pin-head vesicles
• Oral mucosal ulcers
• Submandibular lymphadenitis

• Rash in case of diffuse allergic reaction

• Abnormal bowel sounds (with baseline IBD)

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