[Adverse effects of drugs on the oral mucosa--incidence and clinical picture in clinical patients].

The medical documents of 17.250 inpatients admitted to the Dermatological Department between 1970 and 1980 have retrospectively been examined concerning the frequency and clinical types of drug-induced side effects on the oral mucosa. Among 4.766 inpatients with registered side effects (27.63% to the total) there were 187 (3.92%) exhibiting drug-induced oral lesions. These conditions included, with decreasing prevalence rates, various types of enanthemas, mucosal oedemas, and erythema multiforme exsudativum, whereas other side effects (denture sore mouth, allergic contact stomatitis, lichenoid lesions, etc.) have been observed less frequently. Among the drugs involved analgetics, antiphlogistics and anti-infective ones prevailed being followed by psychopharmaca and dental materials. In 91 our of 121 inpatients, the causative allergen(s) could be ascertained by allergologic examinations (mostly by epi- or intracutaneous testing, or controlled drug exposition). Middle-aged inpatients, in comparison to the total of inpatients, suffered overproportionally from drug-induced oral side effects.