Blisters in the mouth or mouth ulcers can develop for a variety of reasons. Usually it concerns canker sores. These are painful gray-white or thick yellow ulcerations with a red, inflamed edge, measuring three to four millimeters in diameter. They occur in both young and old people. Irritation, injury, or infection of any of the tissues in the oral cavity can also lead to mouth sores. blisters in the mouth that can become painful ulcers also occur with hand, foot and mouth disease, a common childhood disease that occurs in epidemics in the summer and early autumn. Blisters in the mouth or ulcers in the mouth can also occur with certain systemic diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, see Behçet’s disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Rarely, mouth sores indicate cancer. If you have persistent complaints of (transparent) blisters in the mouth, it is wise to consult your doctor.

• Hand, foot and mouth disease

• What is it?
• Symptoms

• Blisters in the mouth due to herpes simplex infection in the mouth
• Skin rash with spots and blisters due to chickenpox
• Blisters in the mouth due to thrush
• Blisters or sores in the mouth: canker sores
• Recurrent mouth ulcers due to Behçet’s disease
• Blisters on skin and mucous membranes due to bullous pemphigoid
• Ulcer in the oral mucosa due to oral cancer
• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Ulcers of the oral mucosa due to Crohn’s disease

 Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease on the Hands of an Adult / Source: James Heilman, MD, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)

Hand, foot and mouth disease

What is it?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common but relatively harmless viral infection that usually starts in the throat and causes blisters in the mouth and on the hands and feet. The infection is caused by the Coxsackie virus . It is mainly children who are affected by the virus, but adults who work a lot with children can also become infected with the virus in the workplace. Hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreaks usually occur in summer and early fall; the infection usually lasts for several days.

Symptoms

The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease are:

• mild fever
• nausea
• vomit
• stomach ache
• a sore throat
• (often painful) blisters in and around the mouth
• red spots that turn into blisters on the hands and feet
• sometimes a rash on the buttocks

Blisters in the mouth due to herpes simplex infection in the mouth

This concerns an infection in the mouth due to the herpes simplex virus, which is colloquially called ‘cold sores’. This virus causes recurrent blisters and ulcers, in which solitary or multiple small fluid-filled blisters develop on the skin, lips or mouth.Chickenpox / Source: 9Gawin/Shutterstock.com

Skin rash with spots and blisters due to chickenpox

Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection, which mainly occurs in children between 5-10 years of age. The culprit is the varicella-zoster virus . In otherwise healthy children, the disease normally presents with mild symptoms, but babies, teenagers and adults (particularly in fragile health) can become more seriously ill. Children often suffer from a flu-like symptoms for a few days. Within 24 hours, a characteristic rash with spots and blisters develops all over the body, often also in the mouth, in the hair and on the eyelids.

Blisters in the mouth due to thrush

Thrush is an infection of the oral mucosa, caused by yeast-like fungi. It occurs in as many as 4% of infants, usually in babies younger than six weeks. White spots or a white cast in the baby’s mouth may indicate thrush. Sometimes there may also be some blisters in the mouth. Thrush is harmless and often goes away on its own.Mouth ulcer / Source: Istock.com/FeelPic

Blisters or sores in the mouth: canker sores

It is not clear exactly how canker sores develop, but these annoying solitary or multiple ulcerations of the oral mucosa usually occur due to reduced resistance, over-fatigue, poor oral hygiene, hypersensitivity to certain foods or persistent tension and stress. These are blisters or ulcers in the mouth, with a diameter of three to four millimeters. Canker sores generally heal spontaneously within two weeks. Damage to the mucous membrane of the mouth that can be caused by brushing your teeth, flossing, chewing gum, sharp hard pieces in food, poorly fitting teeth, injections and dental treatments can trigger canker sores.

Recurrent mouth ulcers due to Behçet’s disease

Behçet’s disease is a chronic condition. The classic triad is recurrent mouth ulcers (canker sores), genital ulcers and an attack of eye inflammation (uveitis). Behçet’s disease is an autoimmune disease, but the cause of the condition is not fully understood.

Blisters on skin and mucous membranes due to bullous pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid is a rare, persistent skin condition, causing blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. It is mainly seen in older age. It is an autoimmune condition, but the precise reason for the abnormal immune response is as yet unknown.

Ulcer in the oral mucosa due to oral cancer

Oral cancer is rare in people under 40 years of age. Oral cancer can manifest as a superficial ulcer. If you have an ulcer in the oral mucosa that does not heal or a growth somewhere in the mouth, it is important to go to the doctor or dentist for examination.

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

SLE is an autoimmune disease. The cause is unknown. The most common symptoms are painful, often swollen joints that can become increasingly painful over time and a red, raised butterfly-shaped rash over the nose and cheeks. This disease can also cause mouth ulcers.Aphthous mouth ulcers in Crohn’s disease / Source: Photographer: TheBlunderbuss, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)

Ulcers of the oral mucosa due to Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. The disease causes inflammation from mouth to hole, but especially in the small and large intestines. This condition can cause serious ulcers in the oral mucosa.

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• Sores on tongue, sores in mouth: Gingivostomatitis
• Mouth ulcer or sore on tongue: canker sores, what to do?
• Tongue pain: causes and symptoms of sore tongue
• Canker sores on the tongue: symptoms and treatment of canker sores