Oral Medicine Case Book 56: Oral Manifestations of aplastic anaemia

Abstract

A 22-year old female patient was referred to the Oral Medicine Clinic from the Haematology Ward at Groote Schuur Hospital for evaluation of a painful oral ulcer, which had been present for three weeks. The patient reported that, six weeks ago, she had sought treatment from her own dentist for painful and bleeding gingivae. The dentist performed a scale and polish and prescribed a combination of amoxicillin and metronidazole, at normal adult doses, for seven days. The gingival bleeding had not resolved by the time she presented for her recall visit, two weeks later. The patient also reported the presence of 'small, purple spots' on her lower limbs and trunk.