CHEILITIS FROM LOCAL USE OF PENICILLIN SOLUTIONS IN MOUTH: Report of a Case

In the course of a study of the local effect of penicillin on chronic recurrent aphthous ulcers, a cheilitis was observed.The patient was a 61 year old white woman who had had recurrent ulcerations of the buccal mucosa, tongue and posterior wall of the pharynx for fifteen years. Periods of remission had lasted more than from two to two and a half weeks. Complete physical examinations, tests for allergy to foods and inhalants and all types of local and systemic therapies had been without help. There were no episodes of herpes simplex. The mouth was edentulous. Numerous painful shallow, sharply marginated reddish ulcers, with intense red collars, were scattered over the buccal mucosa, under the tongue, about the gums and on the hard palate. There was no atrophy or scarring visible. A smear of material from the early lesions showed staphylococci and streptococci. No bacilli or spirillas were