An aphthous-like, not very deep, epithelial defect of a newborn infant's oral cavity is called Bednar's aphtha. Typically the aphthae is not round but rather the shape of a butterfly. The Bednar's aphtha is commonly located close to the tonsils where the soft palate begins. It is a fairly frequent condition and can be observed in about 15per cent of newborns. Although the cause of Bednar's aphtha is still unknown, it is closely linked to mucosal hyperaemia, nutrition with formula and spontaneous birth at term and it might, thus, be an immunological reaction to the antigens a neonate is exposed to during the first days after birth. The aphtha heals within a few days and does not need any treatment.
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